Question: What are the signs that my horse may be aging?
What are the physical signs your horse may be aging? How will I know it's time to care for my horse as if it were a senior horse?
Answer: Not all horses age at the same rate and this can be due to genetics and the care they have received throughout their life. Generally horses are thought to be ‘older’ after the age of 15. But this is a generalization, as there are horses that remain youthful into their twenties. Some even continue to compete at a high level of competition. Some signs your horse is becoming senior citizen are:
- Very aged horses sometimes grow gray hair around the eyes and muzzle.
- Skin tone becomes looser and hair/skin may feel coarser.
- Gaits may become choppier, caused by weaker muscles and arthritic joints.
- Minor scratches and cuts may take longer to heal.
- Change in appetite.
- Very long front teeth, very worn or missing back teeth.
- The back may sag.
- The depression over the eye may become more hollowed.
- Overall energy level decreases.
