How horses age has a lot to do with their luck in the genetic lottery, but factors such as nutrition, medical and dental care, and lifestyle can enhance–and even extend–their years.

“Historically, horses were considered old when they reached their teens,” says Joe Pagan, PhD, president of Kentucky Equine Research in Versailles, Ky. “Now, with advances in parasite control, nutrition, and general care, horses are still working into their late teens and early 20s and can continue to be active well beyond what we previously thought. The term ‘geriatric’ is a misnomer. Aging is not an illness; it’s only when there are physical dysfunctions and illness that an older horse should be labeled geriatric.”

Robert Holland, DVM, PhD, Pfizer Equine Technical Service veterinarian and author of the book Understanding the Older Horse, published by Eclipse Press, agrees. “I had a horse that lived until age 42,” he says. “We competed in endurance riding into his late 20s, but it was because he was sound. Healthy older horses still need a job to do; they still need to feel they belong in order to provide them the motivation to go on.”

If your horse is a youngster, start now with a regimen of parasite control, suitable nutrition, annual wellness exams, vaccina-tions, and preventive dental care to pave the way for a long, healthy life