# Senior Horse Care in the UK — Quick answer

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/horse-senior-care-uk): Senior Horse Care in the UK — Quick answer. Horses are classed as veterans from around 15, and many now live into their 30s, according to the British Horse Society. Senior care centres on dental checks every 6–12 months, regular weight and fat scoring, PPID (Cushing's) screening, soaked forage if chewing is poor, and adapting exercise to keep joints mobile.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/horse-senior-care-uk): Senior Horse Care in the UK — When is a horse 'senior'?. Thanks to better veterinary care, nutrition and management, UK horses are living longer than ever — many into their 30s. According to the British Horse Society, most horses show the first signs of ageing in their mid to late teens, though every horse ages differently and many veterans stay in work for years. An annual health check with your vet is a sensible baseline — catching problems early makes them far easier to manage.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/horse-senior-care-uk): Senior Horse Care in the UK — Normal ageing vs warning signs. | Normal signs of ageing | Signs that need a vet | |------------------------|------------------------| | Grey hairs around eyes and muzzle | Weight loss or loss of appetite | | Drooping lower lip | Difficulty eating or dropping feed (quidding) | | Loss of muscle tone | Stiffness that worsens, or lameness | | Deepening hollows above the eyes | Coat changes — long, curly or non-shedding hair | | Slower to warm up | Exercise intolerance or fatigue | According to the BHS, reduced immunity in older horses also means infections, worm burdens and conditions such as Cushing's (PPID) become more likely — so new symptoms should never be written off as 'just old age'.

PETHEALTH+ (https://pethealth.org.uk/health/horse-senior-care-uk): Senior Horse Care in the UK — Teeth and feeding. Teeth are the cornerstone of senior care. According to the BHS: - Horses' teeth wear away roughly 2–3mm per year and continually erupt to compensate — but by the mid to late twenties there is nothing left to erupt, and the tooth effectively 'runs out' - Worn or missing teeth make chewing grain, rough forage and grazing difficult, increasing the risk of choke, colic and weight loss - Older horses should have a dental check every 6–12 months by a vet or qualified equine dental technician - Soaked, softer feeds are the best fibre replacement for horses that can no longer chew — divide the daily ration into four or five smaller feeds, as soaked feed is bulky - Introduce any new feed gradually over 10–14 days to reduce colic risk Watch for bullying in herds — a veteran may need feeding separately to get their full ration.

Source: https://pethealth.org.uk/health/horse-senior-care-uk