Lifespan of a horse

Have you found the perfect mount for all your equestrian activities? Everything is going well but you still ask yourself lots of questions, such as the life expectancy of a horse. As with humans, through better nutrition and care, a horse's lifespan has increased over time. Find out in our article how many years a horse lives, how to calculate the age of a horse and what you can do to prolong its life. 

How long does a horse live?

The life expectancy of a horse is on average 25 to 30 years. It is not uncommon to see horses that live beyond 40 years. The maximum age of a horse recorded is 62 years, a record held by Old Billy. 🐴

How to calculate horse age in human?

A horse year is equal to 6 human years for the first 3 years of the horse's life. From around 4 years of age, horses age at a rate of 2.5 human years. This means that a 5 year old horse is approximately 23 years old in human years. If your horse reaches the age of 30, the human equivalence in years would be 85.5! 😵

Horse age table in human years

The stages of a horse’s life

A horse is not considered an adult before the age of 4. A female foal is called a filly and a male foal is called a foal. When they begin to grow, they are then called mares, and either stallion or gelding, respectively, depending on whether the foal has been castrated or not. This is usually done between 6 and 12 months of age in a male horse, unless the horse shows promise of breeding in the future.

When a horse reaches the age of 15 to 18, most people consider it to be entering its senior phase. They may begin to slow down and perform less well in their activity, but many horses continue to compete very successfully well into old age. This varies from horse to horse.

How do you know the age of a horse?

If a horse has registration papers or a passport for travel, the age or date of birth is written on these documents. However, if these documents are not available, there are other methods to calculate the age of a horse.

Using teeth to estimate a horse's age

A horse's teeth exhibit unique changes as they age that provide clues to their age. Here are some clues to help you understandhow to calculate the age of a horse.

In short, when looking into a horse's mouth, you can see several characteristics that give you a rough estimate of age. For example, when a horse is five years old, all of its incisors (the six front teeth) have a hole called a cupule, which is a dark spot easily visible when looking at the bottom row of teeth. 😀

Each year, consecutively, the cup will wear down from one pair of teeth, starting at the front center. When the horse ages another year, the pair of teeth just outside the middle then wears out, and so on. When all the shells are worn away, the horse is approximately eight to ten years old. 

At the age of eleven, the upper incisors begin to form a hook on the lower back surface of the tooth, along with the appearance of what is known as the Galvayne groove. This is a line that begins near the gum line and slowly moves down the tooth. A groove halfway down would indicate that a horse is about 15 years old, and by age 20 the groove has made its way to the end of the tooth. The length and shape of the teeth also give a good indication of a horse's age.

Other factors to consider when aging a horse

Just like humans, a horse's body changes as it ages. It may not have the same gray hairs and wrinkles as humans, but there are a few common signs. 😥

Swing Back

A horse's back begins to slope with gravity as it ages. The withers become more prominent.

Rough hair

A horse often loses some of its luster and has a hairier appearance as it ages. The coat is often thicker and denser as it ages. Part of the hair around the face may turn gray.

Loss of muscle mass

The flesh is looser and more difficult to firm than before.

Lameness

The horse begins to have strength problems in certain cases.

The following signs may also be indicators of aging:

• Drooping lips
• Falling earrings
• Decrease view
• Immunity problems (more fragile to diseases)

Common causes of early death in horses

There are common causes of death in horses, some of which can be treated by a veterinarian if discovered early enough. The most common causes of death in horses are colic and other gastrointestinal problems, Cushing's disease and lamenis/laminitis. This is why good veterinary care is so important.

How to help a horse live longer?

The horse's diet and veterinary checks can have an impact. It is important to maintain good dental care because a horse's teeth continue to grow throughout its life. Proper nutrition and monitoring of the immune system can play a vital role in improving the horse's longevity. 👍