Owner-reported health and disease in U.S. senior horses.
Authors: Herbst Alisa C, Coleman Michelle C, Macon Erica L, Harris Patricia A, Adams Amanda A
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Owner-reported health and disease in U.S. senior horses Medical conditions are remarkably prevalent amongst older horses in the United States, with osteoarthritis (30%), dental disorders (15%), lameness (14%) and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (12%) leading the list—leaving only 36% of senior horses free from veterinary-diagnosed disease. This large-scale survey of 2,717 owners documented current management practices and identified risk factors for common geriatric conditions, revealing that advancing age significantly increases the odds of PPID, dental problems and ocular disorders, with each additional year raising the risk of dental disease by 18%. Routine healthcare frequency fell short of ideal standards: whilst farrier visits occurred approximately every 5–6 weeks, veterinary care, dental work and anthelmintic treatment typically occurred only once or twice yearly. A particularly concerning finding emerged for retired horses, which demonstrated 2.4 times higher risk of receiving farrier attention four or fewer times annually, double the risk of receiving no dental care, and 2.1 times higher likelihood of no veterinary visits compared with active pleasure horses. Firocoxib dominated pharmaceutical use (18% of cohort) whilst joint supplements represented the most common nutraceutical intervention (41%), suggesting owners are attempting to manage degenerative conditions—though these data reflect owner perception rather than verified veterinary diagnoses and cannot determine causation. These findings underscore both the high disease burden in senior populations and a significant care gap in retired horses, warranting targeted discussion between owners and equine professionals regarding appropriate preventive healthcare schedules for ageing animals.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Senior horses (≥15 years) require consistent routine care: expect to perform farrier work every 5-6 weeks and coordinate with veterinarians and dental specialists on regular schedules, as retired horses show significantly worse compliance with all preventative care
- •Plan for high prevalence of concurrent conditions—64% of senior horses have at least one diagnosed medical condition; osteoarthritis, dental disease, and lameness account for the majority, requiring integrated management strategies
- •Advocate for maintenance therapy in senior horses: the widespread use of firocoxib and joint supplements reflects evidence-based management of degenerative conditions common in this population
Key Findings
- •Osteoarthritis (30%), dental disorders (15%), and lameness (14%) were the most common veterinary-diagnosed conditions in senior horses ≥15 years old, with only 36% free of reported medical conditions
- •Advancing age significantly increased risk for PPID (OR=1.14), dental disorders (OR=1.18), and ocular disorders (OR=1.05)
- •Retired senior horses had 2-2.4 times higher risk of receiving no veterinary care, no dental care, and infrequent farrier visits compared to pleasure-ridden seniors
- •Firocoxib (18%) was the most commonly administered drug and joint supplements (41%) were the most frequently provided supplements in senior horse management