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Years ago when equines were used chiefly for work rather than pleasure, horses didn’t often see their twentieth birthday. These days, however, due partly to better nutrition, deworming products, and veterinary care as well as a lighter workload, many horses are living well into their third decade and are staying healthy and active during these years.

In most cases, a horse’s ability to exercise doesn’t begin to decline significantly until his 20s, as long as he’s kept in some sort of regular program of work. This means that your teen-aged horse won’t get along very well if he’s allowed to laze around the pasture for six days every week and is then brought up for hours of riding on Saturday. However, with a light to moderate workout on three or four days a week, he should be able to give you several more years of use.

After the age of 20, most horses begin to show some signs of arthritis. They’ll also take a bit longer to warm up at the beginning of exercise, their muscles (including the heart) will not be able to work as hard or efficiently, and they will tend to have a little more trouble getting rid of the heat generated by exercise, especially in hot and humid climates. Exercise may need to be adjusted to accommodate these changes, and owners should check with a veterinarian to see if some type of anti-inflammatory medication can ease stiffness and discomfort.

Each horse will be somewhat different in the rate at which his athletic ability declines, but in general, older horses will benefit from moderate exercise. Horses that are not in some sort of regular work program tend to lose strength and range of joint motion, and they may easily gain too much weight,putting additional strain on arthritic legs. If you don’t have time to ride your older horse, you might consider leasing him to a competent younger rider who will welcome the chance to exercise this senior equine. Older horses have frequently seen and done enough things so that they are quieter and more predictable than greener mounts, making them ideal for riders who are not ready for the more extreme equestrian sports.

Don’t neglect regular veterinary and dental care for your older horse, especially if he is still traveling to shows or trail rides. Be sure immunizations are current, farrier visits are kept on a regular schedule, and basic grooming is performed daily. If your senior horse begins to lose weight, check with an equine nutritionist to see how his diet can be adjusted to provide more calories in an appetizing form. Commercially available feeds labeled for senior horses may or may not be the best choice for your horse, depending on his age, weight, and metabolic type.

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