Senior Horse Care in the UK

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.

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'.

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.

• Monitor fat score regularly — the BHS target is 2.5–3 out of 5; overweight and underweight veterans both carry risks
• Unexpected weight loss or gain always warrants a vet call — teeth are the first thing to check
• Older horses struggle to keep warm: provide shelter, rugs and extra feed through winter
• Excess weight strains ageing joints and raises laminitis risk — soak hay to reduce calories if needed

• PPID (Cushing's) — age-related degeneration of the pituitary gland; UK vets and charities recommend testing older horses, particularly with coat changes, lethargy, increased drinking/urination, recurring infections or laminitis
• Arthritis — common from years of wear; watch for stiffness and reduced joint flexion
• Melanomas — the most common skin tumour of elderly horses, especially greys; check under the tail, around the genitalia, below the ears and around the mouth
• Cataracts — tripping, spooking or bumping into objects can indicate failing sight
• Worm control — immunity declines with age, so keep a testing-led worming programme in place with your vet

• Keep moving — gentle, regular exercise reduces stiffness; use long warm-ups and cool-downs, and only exercise a sound horse under veterinary guidance
• Retired horses do best with maximum turnout rather than long hours stabled
• Farrier visits every 4–6 weeks (per BHS advice) — overgrown, unbalanced hooves strain old joints; pick feet out daily
• Check saddle fit regularly — changing back shape makes last year's fit unreliable
• Support stiff horses when picking feet — keep the foot low and close to the midline

Track appetite, mobility, weight and demeanour regularly — a simple diary makes gradual decline visible. Your vet can help you assess quality of life honestly and plan kind, timely decisions when the time comes.