How Long Do Horses Live?

If you plan to add an equine companion to your life, it’s important to consider their life expectancy. But how long do horses live?

A domesticated horse lifespan can reach 25–30 (or more!) years due to modern advancements in equine overall care, including medical care. So, owning a horse can call for both a long time and financial commitment.

Horse Lifespan: Factors and Stages

While the average horse can live 25–30+ years, several factors can affect a horse’s longevity, including:

• Quality of diet, including forage

• Access to quality medical care

• Any genetic abnormalities that may be present

• Chronic illnesses or injuries

Domesticated horses tend to live longer because veterinarians can address their medical conditions and dietary needs.

In comparison, the horse life expectancy of a wild Mustang or other equines in the wild is typically closer to 15 years. When a wild horse starts to slow down due to arthritis or becomes unable to eat effectively because of dental disease, they have a harder time keeping up with the herd.

A horse’s breed doesn’t impact its life expectancy. However, their size can. Similar to dogs, smaller horse breeds, especially ponies, tend to live longer. It’s common for pony breeds to live into their 40s!

Stages of the Average Horse Lifespan

When considering the lifespan of a horse, it’s important to understand their stages of maturity and how their care changes over time.

Newborn (Birth to Weaning)

Newborn foals are very dependent on their mothers for nutrition. It is also important to consider a mare’s wellbeing during the horse’s pregnancy, as it can directly affect an unborn foal’s health.

Weanling (4–7 months old)

Foals are weaned from their mothers between 4 and 7 months old. During this time, their nutrition shifts from primarily milk to mostly forages and grains. At this time, foals may begin to be trained on the ground, including proper haltering/leading, and behaving well for grooming, farrier, and veterinary care.

Youth (Weaning to 3 years)

During this time, the horse is actively growing. By 3 years old, most of a horse’s growth plates have closed. Around this time, horses may begin to be trained under saddle.

Adult (3–15 years)

Most horses have typically stopped growing and are in their prime athletic years. The majority of competition horses are shown during this time, with the prime age for Olympic-level showjumping horses at 10–14 years. Racehorses typically compete at the highest levels between 2–5 years, and Western discipline athletes typically reach their prime between 6–12 years.

Geriatric (15+ years)

After 15 years, older horses tend to start slowing down and require more support to thrive.

What Makes Some Horses Live Longer Than Others?

There is no one factor that can be used to determine which horses will live longer than others. There is likely a genetic component to why some horses live longer, but it is not completely understood at this time.

Appropriate diet, exercise, hoof care, dental care, and medical care all contribute greatly to improving a horse's chances of living a long and healthy life.

How To Improve a Horse's Lifespan

There are many ways you can support your horse as they age and help them to live a long and healthy life.

Feed a Proper Diet

It is very important to feed your horse a diet appropriate for their age and workload to maintain an appropriate body condition.

As horses age, their teeth become less effective at chewing because they stop growing and the grinding surfaces become smoother. This may require switching from a primarily hay or grass-based diet to a senior feed option.

Exercise Your Horse

Light exercise for an older horse can help to prevent muscle loss and support arthritic joints. Check with your veterinarian to determine what exercise regimen is appropriate for your horse.

Pay Attention To Environmental Management

Older horses and younger horses do not regulate temperature as well, so keeping them cool in the summer and blanketing for warmth in winter is important.

Additionally, make sure all horses have free access to water and shelter. Many horses also benefit from regular salt intake.

Maintain Horse Hoof Care

Maintaining your horse’s feet is key to keeping them sound and comfortable at all stages of life. Regular cleaning and trimming of hooves helps prevent conditions like thrush, abscesses, and injuries.

Even when they are done competing, some thin-soled horses may still require shoes. Overgrown feet can exacerbate the discomfort horses experience from arthritis.

Give Your Horse Routine Dental Care

Discussing regular and maintenance dental care early with your veterinarian is important to prolong the life of a horse’s teeth. This helps keep the teeth at appropriate angles and promote proper alignment so senior horses can make the most of their meals.

Older horses often have less teeth, which makes breaking food down harder and may predispose them to choke. As your horse loses teeth in their geriatric years, your veterinarian may recommend a soaked diet that’s easier for them to consume and digest.

Prioritize Veterinary Care

Horses should be vaccinated and have regular exams by a veterinarian at least once a year, and have fecal exams done regularly for proper deworming. This will help identify any underlying illnesses that may be affecting your horse such as PPID (Cushing’s) and arthritis.

It is important to know that even if you do everything you can to prolong your horse’s life, there are still factors out of your control. Colic and injury can happen to any horse even with the best possible care. Always consider a horse’s quality of life, especially as they get older.