After years of managing your working horse, you might feel like retiring him would the easy part.

Perhaps that’s true in some ways. But when it comes to managing your retiree’s health and welfare, there’s still a lot of meticulous, individualized care involved.

“It’s very difficult, and maybe impossible, to give an old horse a healthy and happy retirement without special management,” says Rick van Proosdij, DVM, a researcher and equine veterinarian at De Klomp Dierenartsen, in the Netherlands.

Nicolas de Brauwere, MRCVS, senior welfare veterinarian at Redwings Horse Sanctuary, in the U.K., seconds that concept. “They need more care and attention—or at least more focused attention to their welfare,” he says.

To ensure your horse experiences a comfortable and happy retirement, we’ve sought advice from worldwide experts in order to bring you the following guide.

Appreciate Each Retired Horse’s Uniqueness

Generalizing the needs of retired horses is one of the most common mistakes people make when caring for them, says Patricia Harris, VetMB, Dipl. ECVCN, MRCVS, an equine nutrition specialist and head of the WALTHAM Equine Studies group, in the U.K.

Each horse ages differently, both physically and mentally. Some remain highly active and energetic well into their 20s, while others show signs of aging by their late teens. Their microbiomes, social needs, dental conditions, susceptibility to various degenerative diseases, and food preferences can also vary widely.

“All these factors—and many more—must be taken into consideration when determining optimal management and feeding for that individual,” Harris says