Care for the Retired Horse

While we make every effort at VRSVA to help horses recover from injury and to reach their full athletic potential, we recognize that there comes a time when retirement is the best option for the animal.

With continuous advancements in nutrition and veterinary care, horses are living longer after retiring.  But as horses age, their management requirements change. Most of them cannot simply be “turned out to pasture.” Having a deep understanding of the needs of the older horse is necessary for keeping them healthy and happy through their senior years.

Feeding Requirements

Early in retirement, many horses do well on good quality pasture with supplemental hay in the winter and a balancer-type feed to provide vitamins and minerals. As horses age, the health of their teeth and their ability to chew may decline. It may become harder for them to eat hay and dry grain. It may take them more time to eat. They may be more prone to choke or colic. It may be necessary to change to a different type of feed, to supplement with pelleted forage and to offer the feed thoroughly soaked to make it easier for them to eat. On the other hand, some older horses may develop metabolic issues that make them particularly sensitive to sugars in certain grasses and some grains. A different type of forage and grain may be necessary for this type of horse. Each individual horse will need regular skilled assessments and nutritional adjustments. It’s valuable to be well-versed in body condition scoring and to remember that a horse’s ideal body condition is between a 4 to 6 out of 9. It is a common misconception that overweight is healthier. It is important to remember that neither overweight nor underweight is healthy.

Water

All horses need free choice access to clean water. For older horses, the water should be easily accessible - a short walk from their hay and shelter. During freezing temperatures, ice should be cleared from the troughs frequently. Older horses are prone to impaction colics and any period of time without water can increase their chances of developing an impaction.

Pasture

Retired horses often have some degree of arthritis and benefit from ample turnout to keep their joints moving. Terrain that is fairly level may be easier for aging horses to walk over.  Most older horses benefit from a pasture with good grass. During certain times of the year, when the grass is high in sugar content, horses with metabolic conditions may need to be moved to a dry lot and offered alternative forage options. Care should be taken to find the right pasture for each horse’s needs in each season.

Companions

Horses are herd animals and do best turned out with companions. Retired horses often make the best pasture mates for each other. They tend to be at a similar energy and maturity level which keeps the field harmonious. Attention should be paid to be sure the horses in the herd are right for each other and that no one alpha is stressing the group.

Shelter

Older horses are more sensitive to extreme hot and cold temperatures. A clean, safe, easily accessible area for shelter should be available at all times.

Blanketing

Many retired horses require blanketing in the winter. Blankets should be removed regularly to allow for grooming, weight assessment and evaluation for wounds or blanket rubs.

Veterinary Care

Retired horses still need veterinary care, typically more so than their younger counterparts.   They should have regular, thorough physical exams to catch new issues early and to guide management. They should have yearly sedated oral exams and dentals. Dental care for aging horses is often more intensive than just taking down sharp points. These horses often develop malocclusions, periodontal disease, and loose or fractured teeth which need to be addressed.

Vaccines are still important. It is a common misconception that older horses have developed immunity to disease over time and no longer require vaccination. This is false. It is another common misconception that because retired horses no longer travel, they no longer need vaccinations. This is also false. The American Association of Equine Practitioners recommends that all horses receive yearly core vaccination - vaccinations for the environmental diseases that all horses are at risk of contracting. These include: Eastern and Western Encephalitis, Tetanus, Rabies and West Nile Virus. Other vaccinations may also be necessary depending on a horse’s location (ie: Potomac Horse Fever) or exposure to new horses (ie: Equine Influenza).   

In a group retirement situation, Coggins testing is still important and required by law. A Coggins test screens for Equine Infectious Anemia, which attacks the immune system. There is no cure for the disease, spread by biting flies, so identification and isolation of positive cases is important.

Aging horses may have weaker immune systems and consequently higher parasite loads than younger horses. A strategic deworming program should be in place with regular fecals performed to monitor egg counts and efficacy of the dewormers used.

Older horses, particularly those that can no longer eat hay, are much more prone to sand accumulation in their gastrointestinal tracts and should be monitored and treated for sand as needed.

Hoof Care

Even though shoes may have been pulled, good farrier care is still important in retirement. Regular trimmings keep the hoof walls growing appropriately and can help identify issues early, such as foot imbalance or laminitis.

Grooming, Bathing, Skin Care

Grooming and bathing is still necessary for the retiree. Regular grooming helps to keep the skin and coat healthy and to catch skin conditions early, such as rain rot, scratches, or growths (ie sarcoids). It also allows thorough assessment for small wounds or rubs which may be hidden by hair coat.

Just as older people have an increased need for care and monitoring, so do aging horses. Whether a star athlete or a beloved companion, it is important to provide a good standard of care to these animals to ensure that their golden years truly are golden.