Should my horse be retired?

If you have an older horse, there may come a point where your horse is no longer suitable for riding. But when exactly is that? How do you know? And what can you do then?

28 January '25 - 3 min reading time

At what point you 'retire' a horse depends entirely on the individual horse. There are many factors that determine whether an animal is still suitable for sport, recreation, walks, ground work, or whatever. In many cases, a horse that can no longer participate in sports will still be suitable for lighter work and will benefit from that. But it is also possible that an older horse has ailments that mean that it can no longer be loaded at all, but may still be able to stand in the pasture without pain.

When is a horse old?

The ages at which horses retire vary greatly. The retirement age depends on the breed, but also on the size of a horse and what a horse has done in its life. Ponies can often remain healthy at work longer than large horses. Skeletal wear and tear, such as osteoarthritis, but also internal diseases such as Cushing's can eventually make a horse unfit to be loaded. Some horses are no longer suitable to be ridden at the age of twelve, others can enjoy trail rides and training until they are over 25.

Rust is rust

Horses are animals of movement. They need movement to stay healthy. In the wild, a horse walks about 16 km a day to forage for food. Mainly in the form of a snack-step, but also with the occasional sprint in between. The horse's skeleton is supported by a 'coat' of muscles, tendons and ligaments. Movement ensures that all those soft parts of the musculoskeletal system remain healthy. That is also the reason that movement is often essential in the case of slight wear and tear of the joints. For example, if a horse has developed slight arthrosis, it can be healthy to continue riding, even though you may no longer be able to jump or cross-country. Your horse's intestines, resistance and nervous system also function better if he continues to exercise lightly. So even if your horse retires, it is wise to ensure that he continues to exercise at a suitable level. For example, by taking him for a walk, or by giving him many more hours of free movement in a nice, stable herd.

Masking

A problem with estimating the (im)possibilities of an older horse is that horses can mask incredibly. Cold bloods and Friesians are particularly known for this. By masking we mean that they do not show that they are not feeling well or are in pain. As prey animals, it is vital for a horse that it does not look like the weakest of the herd. Because that is the first to be eaten... For us as horse owners, this masking is incredibly difficult. There are various tools available with which you can estimate whether a horse is in pain. Firstly, the Equine Pain Face, with which you can use the head of your horse (shape of the nose, position of the ears, eyes) to estimate whether your horse is in pain. There is also an app available for this, so that you can see what you see over a longer period of time. You can then also better estimate whether your horse is getting worse or better from training, for example.

More about the painface: https://www.licg.nl/media/4661/pijn-herkennen-bijpaarden-6_0t-hgs.pdf

In addition, scientists have created a more complex and extensive overview of the pain signals of horses under saddle. In particular, unclear lameness and vague signals of pain or tension become clearer through this method. An explanatory video about this way of evaluating your horse can be found here: https://youtu.be/hrZgtrqbMVI?si=3kL7hjWVtEimO-dE

Consultation

Older horses often develop ailments or conditions that limit their options. Always discuss with your vet what options are available to your horse based on the diagnosis and, for example, X-rays or ultrasounds. Combating inflammation and pain with regular pain medication or, for example, using powerful plant extracts such as black cumin and cloves can also be an option to keep your horse mobile for longer.