Planning Retirement for an Older Horse

Have you thought of retirement for your older horse? Equids living in the Western world typically live well into their 20s if cared for appropriately. Many will continue in a ridden role of some form into their old age. But, at some stage, they reach a point where either an overt lameness or medical condition has occurred that can be managed, but which prevents continuing with ridden work.

Sometimes a horse simply reaches a point when ridden work no longer feels comfortable or possible. Then the decision is made for the horse to be retired.

Where to Retire an Older Horse

For owners who own their own land and keep their animals at home, retiring a horse is often quite straightforward. There might be little impact on the animal’s daily routine or on overall costs.

For owners who keep their horses at a professional riding establishment, the cost of this keep is often only justifiable whilst the horse has a ridden role.

Options beyond the ridden role might include retiring or rehoming your horse as a companion to an alternative farm or equestrian facility specifically for retired horses or for horses at pasture.

Care needs to be taken to make sure that all parties have a clear understanding of the planned new use for the horse. A loan agreement should be put in place that maks clear the role the horse has and the financial responsibilities of each party. This is especially true if you are no longer the primary caregiver for your animal.

You need to determine responsibility for decision making and costs. There can be current health issues that have to be addressed. New medical conditions can occur as the animal ages. All of this should also be discussed and laid out in a written agreement.

Sometimes, owners might need to consider whether euthanasia is the fairest option for their horses given their own circumstances.

Adjusting to Retirement

For some horses, retirement might not come easily. They might not adjust straight away.

For example, some animals used to being stabled for much of the day in a busy yard and regularly exercised under saddle might stand idle once turned out in the paddock. Some of them linger at the gate of the field until they adjust to longer periods of free turnout.

One way to phase out an active ridden lifestyle is by utilising a horse walker or by gradual reduction of ridden work whilst increasing pasture turn out. Make sure turnout is with sensible and calm field companions.

Horses need to learn their new roles and routines. They will gradually reduce in fitness and to adapt to correspondingly altered nutrition.

It is essential that access to adequate shelter during pasture turn out is always provided. The switch from stabling to full-time pasture turn out should be made gradually. Ideally this can happen over the warmer spring and summer months rather than during the colder and wetter months of winter.

Make sure you continue to assess your horse’s quality of life as he adjusts to his new home and/or routine.