Decades of research and experience have provided veterinarians with more tools and tactics to keep aging horses healthy and active longer than ever. | Photo: Courtesy Kristen Janicki

Riding, owning, and loving a senior horse can be bittersweet. You’ve had years, maybe decades, of experiences together, and while he’s still spry at the moment, you know that, eventually, old age will catch up to him. The good news is decades of research and experience have provided veterinarians with more tools and tactics to keep aging horses healthy and active longer than ever. It just takes a little senior horse health knowledge, medical support, and a good care team.

At the University of Kentucky’s senior horse care mini-symposium, held Sept. 28 in Lexington, Marian G. Little, DVM, described a step-wise approach to maintaining aged performance horses’ health and wellness. Little is a Paris, Kentucky-based technical veterinarian for American Regent, Inc.

A 2015 National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) survey confirmed what many equine industry members had long observed: The percentage of the horse population aged 20 years and older has increased to 11.4%, up from 7.6% and 5.6% in 2005 and 1998, respectively, Little said. This means there’s a growing need for care tailored to senior horses, many of which are still actively competing and/or teaching novice riders