A cross-sectional study of geriatric horses in the United Kingdom. Part 2: Health care and disease.
Authors: Ireland J L, Clegg P D, McGowan C M, McKane S A, Pinchbeck G L
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Health Care and Disease in Geriatric Horses Ireland and colleagues surveyed UK horse owners with animals aged 15 years and over to establish baseline data on preventive health care provision, clinical disease prevalence, and owner recognition of health problems in this growing demographic. Their cross-sectional postal questionnaire study of a randomly selected sample revealed concerning gaps in routine care: only 68.7% of geriatric horses had received a veterinary examination within 12 months, and preventive measures including vaccination and farrier care declined significantly with advancing age. Whilst 77% of owners reported observing at least one clinical sign of disease and 58% documented a disease episode in the previous year, just 31% recognised their horse as having an existing condition—suggesting substantial under-diagnosis and potential welfare compromise. The findings highlight a troubling disconnect between observable clinical signs and owner recognition, compounded by deteriorating access to preventive healthcare as horses age, which has direct implications for how equine professionals might structure geriatric management protocols and client education within their practices.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Educate owners of geriatric horses about recognizing clinical signs of disease and the importance of regular veterinary examinations, as many health problems go undiagnosed despite observable signs
- •Implement proactive preventive health care protocols for aged horses, including regular farrier care and vaccinations, as current provision declines with age and may compromise welfare
- •Communicate with owners that 77% of geriatric horses show disease signs but only 31% receive confirmed diagnoses, highlighting the need for professional assessment to bridge this recognition gap
Key Findings
- •Only 68.7% of geriatric horses (≥15 years) received routine veterinary visits within 12 months, with preventive care declining with advancing age
- •77% of owners reported at least one clinical sign of disease in their aged horses, yet only 31% reported their animal currently suffered from a known disease or disorder
- •58% of horses experienced at least one disease episode in the previous 12 months, indicating significant gap between owner recognition and actual disease prevalence
- •Increasing age was associated with increased reporting of clinical signs, suggesting greater disease burden in older geriatric horses