There are many benefits that come with owning a horse. For one, it encourages you to be physically active. Secondly, it heightens your sense of responsibility. And finally, it offers you a lifelong companion.
But before you rush to buy a horse, there are a few points you should keep in mind. One of these is their lifespan. So just how long does a horse live?
Unfortunately, there’s no clear-cut answer to this question. According to experts, the estimated lifespan can range anywhere between 25 and 35 years. However, smaller breeds have a longer life span than larger horses. For a more detailed answer, check out the following guide.
Average Life Expectancy of Wild and Domestic Horses
The lifespan of a horse varies significantly. It depends on many factors such as diet, exercise, veterinary care, horse’s breed and living conditions.
With regards to living conditions, domesticated horses tend to live longer than any wild horse.
This is not surprising considering domestic horses receive better care than wild horses. So while the lifespan of a domestic horse ranges between 25 and 30 years, wild horses have a lifespan of just 15 years.
| Domestic Horses | 25 to 30 Years |
| Wild Horses | Up to About 15 years |
Average Life Expectancy for the Most Popular Horse Breeds
Apart from the living settings, breed is another aspect that has a significant impact on a horse’s lifespan. For instance, ponies tend to have a very long life span. They can be used to train novice riders even in their 30s.
Meanwhile, larger horses have a shorter lifespan than smaller horses. This particularly affects draft breeds. However, there are a couple of large breeds that enjoy a long and healthy life in their forties. In case you’re curious, here’s a chart showing the average horse lifespans of the most common breeds:
Horse breed Estimated life expectancy
| HORSE BREED | LIFESPAN |
|---|---|
| American Paint Horse | 30-31 years |
| Icelandic Horse | 25-30 years |
| Tennessee Walker | 28-30 years |
| Friesian Horse | 16-18 years |
| American Quarter Horse | 20-30 years |
| Miniature Horse | 25-35 years |
| Arabian Horse | 25-35 years |
| Trakehner Horse | 30-35 years |
| Appaloosa | 29-33 years |
| Thoroughbred | 25-28 years |
| Mustang | 15-20 years |
In summary, different horse breeds have different life expectancies with Trakehners and Arabians living the longest.
Other horses that seem to have a modest lifespan include the American Quarter Horse, Appaloosa, Thoroughbred, Miniature, Icelandic, Tennessee Walking Horse, and American Paint Horses.
This could be because most horses live very active lives. Quarter horses, for instance, take part in multiple equine sports ranging from barrel racing (see the best barrel racing breeds) to roping and jumping. Thoroughbreds are also revered for their athleticism and speed. Learn more facts about the Thoroughbred.
That said, it’s crucial to note that these are merely estimates. So it’s not unusual for a given horse breed to live longer than expected. Thanks to the advancement in veterinary medicine, these animals now live longer and more comfortable lives.
What are Some of the Oldest Horses that Ever Lived?
A gigantic Shire-breed of horse called Old Billy holds the record of being the oldest horse.
Originally bred as a workhorse, it lived up to a ripe age of 62 years. If you were to convert this, it’s equal to 165 human years.
Old Billy lived in Lancashire, UK under the care of Edward Robinson. It’s here that he served most of his life as a barge horse, towing barges via river canals.
Once he surpassed the average lifespan, he became quite popular, especially in his local town. So much so that renowned artist, W. Taylor, created a portrait of him.
Examples of other older horses that have had a good running are:
- Sugar Puff – this was a cross between an Exmoor and Shetland Pony that lived to 56 years
- Badger – this was also a mixed breed between an Arabian and Welsh pony and lived up to 51 years
- Shayne – this Irish Draught died at the age of 51
Difference between Human Age vs Horse Age
Has it ever crossed your mind just how old you could be in horse years? Or if you own a horse, have you ever wondered about its age in human years?
Turns out that human beings and horses age and mature at a different pace. As such, any comparisons made by experts are simple estimates; hence, should not be regarded as hard and fast rules.
*Read our guide about when horses stop growing (and their growth stages) for more information.
To show that humans and horses grow and mature at different rates, equine veterinarians carried out a study.
They discovered that a one-year-old horse is equivalent to a six-year-old human toddler. For illustration purposes, a horse is able to walk an hour after being born. Contrary, an infant takes anywhere between 8 and 18 months to walk.
On the same point, human infants take at least six months before they can start consuming solid food. Conversely, foals start mimicking their moms and nibbling on grass just a few weeks after birth.
This is why the maturity rate of a yearling horse is likened to that of a 6-year-old toddler. This means that a 2-year-old horse has the same maturity as a 13-year-old human and so on.
How to Determine a Horse’s Age
If you have a registered horse on your hands, then determining its age is fairly easy. This is because the date of birth is always indicated on official documents such as its registration papers or travel passport.
But in case none of these records are available, you can determine its age using the following:
Horse’s teeth
The dental structure can help you estimate the horse’s age. Some of the signs you should watch out for are:
A cup in their incisors
When a horse reaches five years old, all its incisors form a hole referred to as a cup.
Every year following this, the cup gradually wears away in tooth pairs. Once a horse ages one more year, the pair of teeth exterior to the middle teeth chips away next and this sequence continues. Once all the cups wear out, the horse’s age will be about 8 to 10 years.
Dental stars
Another sign you can look for is a dental star. This mark typically appears on the lower incisors in the middle section when a horse reaches 6 years.
Back structure
Have you ever seen a horse whose back looks swayed? If you have, there’s a good chance that you were looking at a senior horse. This is because their backs dipper further down as they grow older.
Muscle mass loss
An older horse is also likely to have less muscle mass than a younger one.
Factors that Affect How Long Horses Live
The main factors that affect horse lifespan are:
Exercising and Rest
Like other domesticated animals- such as cats and dogs – horses also need exercises on the regular.
So rather than locking it up in a stable all day long, take it trail riding every once in a while. If this seems like too much, even a simple 20-minute walk is enough exercise for your domesticated horse.
Aged horses are at a higher risk of suffering degenerative musculoskeletal diseases like arthritis. You can ward off such conditions – or at least delay their onset – by encouraging your horse to stay active.
Nutrition/ Diet
Want your domestic horse to live for the longest time possible? Then ensure that you provide your steed with the best nutrition.
On that note, a horse’s diet should be made up of mostly grass or hay. To maintain a healthy horse, ensure the grass/ hay doesn’t have traces of dust or mold. Consider some of these horse feeding hay bags and nets. Also read our guide to learn how much hay to feed a horse in winter.
Similarly, you should feed your horse small amounts of food throughout the day; instead of one large one. You can use a slow feeder for horses. This helps to replenish its energy since most horses lead active lifestyles. However, don’t go overboard. Overweight horses are more susceptible to health problems such as:
- Increased stress on their joints – see our guide to the best joint supplements for horses
- Damage to soft tissues
- Heat intolerance (read about heat stress in horses)
Finally, be mindful of what goes into your horse’s mouth, especially when they’re grazing in the wild. As highlighted here, some plants are toxic to horses; hence, they should be avoided. These include: Alsike clover, tall buttercup, white and red clover, tall fescue among others.
Breed
As mentioned earlier, the breed of a horse has an impact on its lifespan. Currently, there are over 300 breeds and each one has different traits that either improve or shorten its life.
Workload
Some horse breeds are bred because they excel in a particular discipline. There are horse breeds for dressage, just as there are trail riding breeds. Unfortunately, many of the horses that participate in risky and energy-consuming activities have a shorter lifespan.
For instance, the career of a racehorse starts from when it’s 2 to 10 years old. Once it retires, not every owner continues caring for the animal. This then leads to a deterioration of the horse’s life and ultimately demise.
Veterinary Care & General Health Issues
One challenge that’s facing the equine sector is overbreeding. This is the practice of breeding two or more horse breeds together without any regard to their parentage or lineage.
This has resulted in several horse breeds being susceptible to health problems, which they then pass on to their offsprings. Unfortunately, such genetic conditions can significantly reduce the breed’s lifespan.
Arabian horses are a good case in point. Most of their foals are genetically predisposed to an immune-deficiency disorder. Here are some more examples of equine genetic disorders:
Colic
This disease stems from lack of proper nutrition. The most common sign that your horse is suffering from colic is intense abdominal pain.
Cushing’s disease
Although this condition affects all horse breeds, it’s more common among Morgan horses and Ponies.
Arthritis
This one is particularly common amongst older horses. Sadly, it’s hard to prevent a senior horse from getting this disease. But a stringent exercise regimen can delay its onset and keep your horse from getting the most severe form of it.
Laminitis
Regarded as one of the most acute conditions, this disease affects the hooves. It arises when an owner fails to follow a proper horse’s diet.
To catch these diseases early and increase the chances of your horse living longer, it’s good to take them to a vet every once in a while. This way, they can get examined and treated in time in case they’re found to be suffering from any genetic disorders.
Vaccinations
One other thing that affects horse lifespan is vaccination (or lack thereof). You should keep abreast with their vaccinations to protect them from common illnesses. This will, in turn, help your horse live longer. Examples of conditions that your horse should be immunized against are:
- Tetanus
- Rabies
- Equine influenza
- West Nile virus
- Botulism
- Encephalomyelitis
- Equine herpesvirus 1 & 4
- Strangles
Hoof Care
Only a handful of owners remember to take care of their horse’s feet. What they don’t realize is that proper hoof care can improve horse longevity. Here are some of the things you can do to keep their hooves in good condition:
- Pick out their hooves so as to get rid of rocks or thorns that can cause discomfort
- Trim their hooves once every 6 to 8 weeks – you can hire a trained farrier to do this
- Ensure their feet are well-balanced- this is particularly important for senior horses that are susceptible to other conditions like arthritis
Dental Care
Unknown to many, dental care affects the lifespan of a horse. One dental practice, in particular, that horse owners shouldn’t ignore is floating. This entails removing the sharp points that develop on a horse’s teeth.
Socializing
Another factor that a lot of owners neglect is socializing their domesticated horses. But here’s the deal, horses are herd animals. As such, they prefer being in the company of other horses or humans.
If you own a ranch, then socializing your horse will be pretty easy. But if you own just one horse, you’ll need to look for ways to socialize it. For instance, you can enroll it in equine activities or allow it to graze alongside other friendly horses.
FAQs
How long do ponies live?
Pony breeds can live up to 10 years longer. This means that the average life expectancy of a pony ranges from 35 to 45 years.
How long do horses live in the wild?
The average lifespan of a wild horse is 15 years. It’s not entirely impossible that wild horses live longer. But with the majority lacking veterinary care puts them at a higher risk; thus, shortening the horse’s life.
How long do horses live in captivity?
On average, a domesticated horse breed lives up to 30 years. But if it’s taken care of properly and doesn’t suffer from any health issues, most horses can live well into their forties.
How long do race horses live?
Many race horses are believed to live up to 25 to 35 years.
How long do horses live in human years?
Their average lifespan in human years ranges from 71 to 101 years.
How long do horses live in horse years?
Converted to horse years, the average lifespan starts from 25 to 35 years.
Conclusion
Are you an equine enthusiast? If you are, you’ve probably asked yourself, “just how long does a horse live?” The answer to this isn’t straightforward.
However, experts estimate the life expectancy of domesticated horses to fall between 25 and 35 years. To determine the exact lifespan of a horse, there are other aspects that you should factor in. The breed, workload, nutrition, vaccinations, hoof management, dental hygiene all affect how a horse ages.
