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Over 7 million horses are kept as pets and working animals in the U.S.1 Owners use their horses for travel, sport, companionship, and labor.
Keeping these animals is a long-term commitment, however. Exactly how long do horses live? Depending on their diet and living conditions, horses can live for about 25 to 30 years, though some can live longer with proper care. The oldest domestic horse was Old Billy, who lived to be 62 years old.2
Read on to learn more about the average lifespan of a horse and the factors that can increase or decrease their lifespan.
What’s the Average Lifespan of a Horse?
The average horse lives for 25 to 30 years. Some horses live longer or shorter lives, depending on unique factors. Ponies, which are horses that are under 14.2 horse hands, may live as long as 40 years. Conversely, draft horses, such as Percherons and Clydesdales, may have shorter lifespans.
Why Do Some Horses Live Longer Than Others?
Wild horses may live shorter lives than their domestic counterparts, due to a lack of reliable nutrition, veterinary care, and safe shelter. Of course, these same issues can also affect domestic horses that are in abusive and negligent environments.
1. Nutrition
A horse’s diet primarily consists of hay or grass. Unlike ruminants like cattle or sheep, with their multi-chambered stomachs, horses are hindgut fermenters, with a simple stomach and intestines that are working 24/7. They require near-constant grazing to keep their digestive system functioning properly. Horses do well on small meals of hay and grain throughout the day, along with access to fresh, clean water.
Horses are susceptible to three different conditions related to nutrition that can be fatal.
- Colic: A painful condition of the digestive tract that can have several different causes, including a buildup of gas or food, an obstruction, tumors, spasms, and intestinal inflammation. Horses cannot belch (eructate), vomit, or regurgitate, so if they have stomach upset, they respond by not eating or drinking. This can cause additional food material or gas to build up in the gut, which can shift in position and compromise the blood supply. Regardless of the cause, this condition can be severe enough to require surgery or lead to death.
- Founder: Also known as laminitis, founder has numerous causes, but excess grain and lush grass are among them. With this condition, the bone inside of the horse’s hoof pulls away from the hoof wall and rotates forward. In severe cases, the bone may rotate forward through the sole of the hoof, causing severe pain and infection. With early intervention, founder can be treated, but prolonged cases can lead to the need for euthanasia.
- Rhabdomyolysis: Often caused by nutritional or electrolyte deficiencies, exertional rhabdomyolysis can cause sweating, rapid heartbeat, uncontrollable muscle contractions, and painful, firm muscles. While manageable with proper nutrition and supplementation, rhabdomyolysis can be life-threatening and may cause muscle breakdown and death.
2. Housing
Horses need shelter to protect them from inclement weather. At minimum, your horse should have a simple three-sided shelter, but a fully enclosed barn or stable with stalls is the best option. Enclosing them protects from rain, wind, snow, heat, and insects.
In extreme weather, horses may need additional care and interventions. If it’s cold, horses should have blankets, sheets, and if necessary, insulating underlayers. The blankets and sheets should be waterproof and tear-resistant. In the heat, horses should be given access to clean water and a salt lick or electrolyte supplement to prevent imbalances and dehydration. They should also have shade from the sun. If the horse has a heavy coat, body clipping or trace clipping can enable them to release heat more efficiently.
3. Size
Most people are familiar with how size affects the lifespan of dogs. Similar can be said of horses. Large breeds, such as drafts, typically have shorter lifespans than ponies or small horses like Welsh ponies and Arabians.
So, when is a horse considered to be old? That depends on the breed and type, but most horses are considered old at around 25 years of age. That’s approximately 70 in “human years.” Eventing horses are said to be in their prime around 10 to 12 years old, while racehorses are at their peak around 3-4 years of age.
4. Exercise
Horses are active animals and need exercise to stay healthy. Whether through regular work, competition, or light trail work and ample pasture space, they need activity to stay fit. Older and overweight horses may be prone to joint conditions like laminitis and arthritis, which can be slowed by regular conditioning. They should never be confined to a stall and require regular turnout in a field.
Keep in mind, however, that exercise should be appropriate for the horse’s physical condition, age, and health. Working this animal too intensely or frequently can be as detrimental as too little.
5. Genetics
There are over 300 horse breeds in the world, all with different histories. As animals of utility, horses have been selectively bred for different purposes, such as sporting, pulling carts, or driving cattle.
Certain breeds are more susceptible to hereditary diseases, which can impact their lifespan. For example, Arabian horses are prone to producing immunodeficient foals, while Appaloosas are prone to congenital eye conditions.
In addition, horses bred for specific purposes may have shorter lifespans as a result of their jobs, not the breeds themselves. For example, racing Thoroughbreds tend to begin racing around 2 years old and typically retire by 10 years old. If their racing career begins before their joints have fully developed, they will be more susceptible to injury and chronic joint problems. Racehorses are also frequently euthanized during their racing careers due to injuries and may be subjected to abuse or neglect that impacts their health.
6. Health Care
Horses are susceptible to many health conditions that can be prevented with vaccinations and proper veterinary care.
- Rabies
- Tetanus
- Encephalomyelitis
- Influenza
- Herpes
- Botulism
- Potomac horse fever
- Rotavirus
- West Nile virus
- Strangles
In addition, regular veterinary exams can identify potential problems in the early stages for more effective treatment.
Horses need regular hoof care. The hooves are one of the most fragile areas of the animal and absorb the shock of running on hard ground or landing after jumps. Depending on the individual, a horse’s hooves should be trimmed every month or 6 weeks, and most benefit from custom-fitted horseshoes on the front or all four feet. Those with weak hooves may benefit from a hoof supplement.
In addition, horses need regular dental care from a qualified equine dentist. Their teeth never stop growing, so hooks, uneven growth, or other problems can affect their eating habits.
The 7 Life Stages of a Horse
1. Pregnancy And Embryonic Stage
A horse’s gestation period is 11 to 12 months. During that time, they can suffer embryonic loss due to stress, uterine infections, hormone abnormalities, twinning, and fever. Proper care before and during pregnancy helps minimize the risks of complications and spontaneous abortion.
2. Foal
Baby horses are called foals from birth to 1 year old, regardless of sex. Although they can stand and walk within hours of birth, foals nurse from their mother until 4 to 7 months of age.
Foals should be socialized from an early age, with early introductions to handling and basic training.
3. Weanling
Horses are weaned between 4 and 7 months. At 4 months, the foal’s nutritional requirements exceed what’s available in the mare’s milk, and most are started on grain and hay or grass.
4. Yearling
Yearlings may refer to horses that have reached 1 year of life, but are not older than 2 years, regardless of sex. They are fully weaned and continue with halter training and other commands, depending on their future role.
5. Colt or Filly
As they approach sexual maturity, male and female horses are referred by different names. Colts are male horses under the age of 4, while a filly is a female horse under the age of 4.
This life stage is when horse owners and trainers really lay the groundwork for riding, getting them accustomed to saddling and lunging. Actual riding is usually reserved for when they’re about 4-6 years old, when the horse’s skeletal development is mature. Up to this stage, they should still exercise according to their age. For advice on appropriate type and amount of physical activity, consult with your equine veterinarian.
6. Stallion, Mare, and Gelding
After sexual maturity, horses are still referred to by their sex. Stallions are intact (non-castrated) males over the age of 4, while geldings are castrated males over the age of 4.
Mares are female horses over the age of 4. Spaying, or removing some or all of the reproductive organs, is rare in these animals. Spaying a horse is an expensive and complicated procedure that’s prone to complications. In addition, mares are less likely to develop hormone-related behavioral issues than stallions, and the chance of accidental breeding is slim. Unless being used for breeding, most male horses are gelded, and stallions are typically kept away from mares to avoid behavioral problems and unwanted mating.
7. Senior
A horse upwards of 15 years old is generally classified as senior. Many horses still work and compete at this age, however, so it’s more of a guideline than a strict rule.
Truly senior horses may need more support and care to address their needs. Geriatric horses may experience poor topline condition, as the muscles that run from the poll (where the skull meets the neck) and along the back gradually lose their bulk. Older horses often have lower coat and hoof quality, reduced nutrient absorption, and an increased incidence of disease, weight loss and dental issues. Senior feed and supplementation may help manage some of these age-related concerns.
How to Tell Your Horse’s Age
One of the most common ways that people age horses is by their teeth. Although challenging to an inexperienced eye, a horse’s teeth can show age with relative accuracy when examined by a professional or an equine veterinarian. Wear on the teeth can somewhat impact the age estimation, however.
Age determination involves studying the 12 front incisors. The canine teeth appear around 4 or 5 years old in geldings and stallions but not mares. Other ways include checking for the occurrence of permanent teeth, evaluating the surfaces of the teeth, looking for the disappearance of cups, and measuring the angle of incidence, or the angle of the meeting of the upper and lower jaws.
Another way to check a horse’s age is with a tattoo. Racehorses typically have a tattoo under the lip that includes a letter denoting the year of birth and a series of numbers. The tattoos can fade over time, but the combination of the estimated age from teeth, their physical appearance, and any legible numbers or letters can positively identify a racehorse. This number can then be used to look up their pedigree and race records and determine their exact birthdate.
Conclusion
With good care, horses can live well into their second, third, or even fourth decade. Paying careful attention to their health, exercise, and nutritional needs, as well as staying on top of preventive health, dental care and hoof maintenance, will ensure your horse has the best chances of a long and healthy life. Proper housing, enrichment, and companionship can keep your horse feeling and performing their best, whether that be in competition, work, or simply as a pet. Even senior horses that no longer work can be lovable pasture pals to younger horses.
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Featured Image Credit: bellajojos, Pixabay
