The Differences Between Old Horses & Young Horses

Horses age 3.5 times faster than humans. A horse is considered geriatric when it has reached 20 years old. The age of a horse is determined by examining its teeth, but there are other indications of whether the horse is old or young by looking at its physical traits and certain behaviors.

  1. Teeth

    • One of the most accurate ways to age a horse is to look at the horse's teeth. Horses under the age of 8 can be aged exactly according to their milk teeth. After this age, teeth can be examined to give an estimate of the horse's age. Horsemen examine the galvayne's groove, a dark brown groove that runs down the incisor teeth. Where it is on the tooth and how long it is give an indication of the horse's age. Older horses need routine dental care.

    Diet

    • Pasture is the best, most natural thing to feed a horse. However, many older pleasure horses' teeth or digestive systems may prevent them from being able to graze effectively. Hay should be high-quality, green and dust-free. Many older horses can benefit from concentrates to supplement their dietary needs. Concentrates are grains, sweet feed and manufactured feeds combined.

    Appearance

    • A horse that is aging will begin to sway in his back, and its withers will show. Older horses will also have sagging skin, deep depressions above the eyes, and their lower lips will probably droop. Older horses, just like humans, will develop grey hairs around their eyes and ears. They may also develop cataracts and arthritis, and will have difficulty eating.

    Illness

    • There are a number of conditions that horses develop with age, such as arthritis, liver, kidney, pituitary and thyroid dysfunction. Older horses will demonstrate a loss of appetite, lameness, stiffness in their joints, increase in urination, hair loss and intolerance of excessively cold temperatures. These symptoms can be treated by a veterinarian through medication and herbal remedies.