Ways to Tell the Difference Between a Young Horse & Old Horse

Young Horses

• Horses less than one year old are called foals. Foals are physically distinctive as their legs are disproportionately long in relation to their bodies, their coats are fuzzy and soft and they have short, undeveloped tails. They are uncoordinated and babyish in appearance. When a horse is a year old, it is referred to as a yearling. Yearling horses are still physically immature and have comparatively long legs.

  Until they are four years old, male horses are referred to as colts and female horses as fillies. When a horse is four years old, it becomes 'aged' and starts its training as a riding horse. Some breeds of horses mature more quickly and are able to start their training earlier. Racehorses start training very early, and consequently tend to suffer from leg problems later in life.

Old Horses

• The age at which a horse becomes 'old' varies according to size and breed. Veteran competitions, which consist of a ridden or in-hand show, allow horses to compete from the age of 15. Many breeds live happily into their late twenties and early thirties; very large horses will have a shorter lifespan than ponies, who are no larger than 58 inches at the withers.

  Smaller horses and ponies often mature faster and can start work sooner than larger horses. They also have a tendancy to live longer, as there is less stress on their joints. These smaller animals can have a useful working life from four or less to their late twenties.

  Large horses in comparison can have a more limited working life, from around the age of four or five to their late teens or early twenties.

  The world's oldest pony as listed in the Guiness Book of Records, died in 2007 at the age of 56.

Physical Differences Between Old and Young Horses

• Young horses tend to have far shinier coats and brighter eyes than their older counterparts, and should generally have a bright, alert appearance. They will have no trouble holding a constant weight or keeping muscle tone, and will be less subject to certain health problems.

  Old horses have dull coats, and may have gray hairs, particularly around the muzzle and eyes. The flesh above the eye socket will gradually recede, giving a hollow appearance. The horse will lose muscle tone along his back, which may give him a sway-backed appearance. He may be more susceptible to age-progressive problems such as arthritis, Cushing's Disease and respiratory disorders.

Behavioral Differences Between Old and Young Horses

• Horse behavior is subject to factors other than age, but in general terms an old horse will be more steady and calmer than a young one. Very young horses do not yet have enough life experience to overcome their natural flight instinct, and will often react to situations that old horses would take in stride. Old horses may also be happier to settle when alone and be less dependant on the support of the herd.

Dental Differences Between Old and Young Horses

• It is common knowledge that you can tell the age of a horse by looking at its teeth. However, it is difficult to age a horse exactly by using this method. In general, the teeth of old horses will slant forwards at a much greater angle, and appear long and yellowed. The teeth may also be loose in the gums, and the horse may have difficult in eating.

  The teeth of a young horse are a much brighter white in color and will look smaller in comparison. A young horse will also not have a Galvayne's Groove, a brownish groove on the upper corner incisor teeth that appears at around 10 years old.