Your beloved older trail horse has carried you miles on his back, and you look forward to many more. He's sensible, reliable, and bombproof. You use him to settle younger, more skittish horses.
Lately though, he seems to be struggling on those harder rides. He just doesn't seem quite up to tackling challenging trails. Is it time to quit? Probably not. But it might be time to slow things down a little bit. And hey, you might be ready to scale back, as well.
Here, I'll help you decide when it's time to reduce the demands on your older horse. Then I'll give you seven keys to
senior-horse health. I'll tell you what major concerns you should have, how to recognize problems should they arise, and what you can do to help keep your aging trail horse healthy, strong, and fit to ride for as long as possible.
Along the way, I'll explain why you need to keep a close eye on tack fit, and I'll supply you with five signposts that indicate it's probably time to give your old-timer a well-earned retirement.
How Old is Old?
When does your horse officially become a "senior"? It's hard to say. Just like people, some horses show their age a little sooner than others. It often depends on the care they receive.
As a rule of thumb, every year of your horse's life is the equivalent of three to four years of yours. That means your 15-year-old horse is somewhere between 45 and 60 years in human terms, a time when some of us are slowing down and others are just reaching their peak.
Your 25-year-old horse is between 75 and 100 years in human terms, a time when most of us slow down (at least a little bit) and some are confined to a wheelchair or bed.
Your goal is to recognize how your horse is aging and modify your demands according to his needs. Start watching your older horse for signs of aging when he's about 15 years old. These signs include:
• Graying hair. Older horses will begin to show gray hairs, first over the eyes and around the muzzle, and later over other parts of the body. Gray hair may be the first sign that your horse is entering his senior years.
• Longer haircoat. Many aging horses begin to grow a longer, thicker haircoat. Although they still shed during warmer months, even their summer coat is heavier than that of their younger counterparts. If this long haircoat is excessive, begins to curl, or fails to shed, your old-timer could be developing Cushing's disease, a hormonal abnormality common in older horses. If you see this happening, ask your veterinarian whether testing for Cushing's disease would be advised.
• Loss of muscle tone. Your older horse may begin to lose muscling over his back and hindquarters, often accompanied by a swaying back and pendulous belly. Although this can be a completely normal physical change, it might also indicate the need for changes in his care. Pay attention to his condition and ability to keep up on the trail. A loss of muscle tone is another possible sign of Cushing's disease, so ask your vet whether this change in physique is extreme.
• Behavioral changes. As your horse ages, he's likely to become more settled. He's less likely to spook or resist requests from handlers, because he's "seen it all." It's this maturity that makes an older horse a good mount for children or beginning riders. However, if your horse's behavior changes from settled to grouchy, it might be time to scale back your work demands.
• Stiffness and soreness. Just like you, your horse might find it harder to "get out of bed" in the morning as he ages, and might even struggle a bit with hard trails or long rides. Pay attention. Offer him plenty of time to warm up and get moving, and modify your rides according to what he seems comfortable doing.
