Senior Horse Care Management: New Research From 919 Horses

An older horse enjoying daily tactile contact — one of the most effective tools for monitoring health and welfare in senior horses.

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A 2026 survey of 919 horses aged 20 years and older found significant age-related differences in feeding, grooming, social contact, and activity levels — with older horses receiving less frequent grooming, less long-fiber roughage, and fewer mineral and vitamin supplements than their younger counterparts. Most senior horses maintained social contact and many remained active, though riding use dropped sharply with age. The findings offer a practical snapshot of how aging horses are currently managed and where care practices may need to catch up with the horse's changing needs.

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Why this study matters

Horses are living longer. Advances in veterinary care and management mean that a growing proportion of the equine population is now reaching advanced age — and owners, trainers, and veterinarians are navigating that reality with limited research to guide them.

This study set out to describe how horses aged 20 and older in Germany are actually being managed — not how they should be managed in theory, but what owners are reporting in practice. By surveying over 900 owners across feeding, housing, social contact, activity, and daily care, researchers from Freie Universität Berlin produced one of the most comprehensive population-level pictures of senior horse management available.

The practical value for riders and trainers is significant: what the data reveals about where management practices change — and where they may fall short — applies well beyond Germany.

Overview: A nationwide survey of owners caring for senior horses

This was a cross-sectional online survey conducted in Germany in 2023, developed in connection with a national conference on aging horses. A total of 919 single-horse questionnaires were included in the final analysis — one response per horse to ensure reliable age-group comparisons.

Horses were divided into three age groups:

• 20–24 years (42% of respondents)

• 25–29 years (38% of respondents)

• 30 years or older (20% of respondents)

Breed types included warmbloods (58%), ponies and small horse breeds (25%), Thoroughbreds and Partbreds (10%), and others (8%).

The survey covered housing systems, social contact, feeding practices, activity levels, grooming frequency, daily time commitment, and behavioral changes. Health status and dental data were collected separately and will be reported in a companion publication.

Key findings: What the data shows about senior horse care management

Grooming and daily care

Most owners spent two to three hours per day on horse care. Over half of all horses were groomed daily — but grooming frequency declined significantly with age. Daily grooming dropped from 58% in the 20–24 age group to 40% in horses aged 30 and older. Weekly grooming became more common as horses aged. Warmbloods were groomed more frequently than ponies and small breeds.

Housing

The most common housing arrangement was group-only housing (28%), followed closely by stall-only (26%). When categories were combined, 59% of horses experienced at least some stall housing, 52% had access to group housing, and 40% had access to pasture. Housing type did not change significantly with age — but did vary by breed type, with ponies more often kept in group housing and warmbloods more often in stalls.

Social contact

The majority of horses — 87% — had full tactile social contact within a group. Around 11% had only fence-line contact and 2% had only visual, auditory, or olfactory contact. Younger senior horses (20–24 years) were more likely to have full tactile contact than those aged 25–29, though the reason for this difference is unclear from the survey data alone.

Activity

Over 61% of horses aged 20 and older were still ridden or driven. However, riding use declined sharply with age: 78% of 20–24-year-olds were still ridden, dropping to 57% in the 25–29 group and just 34% in horses aged 30 and older. Among retired horses, the majority (33%) were still receiving groundwork or walking — only 6% were completely inactive.

Behavioral changes

Most behavioral traits remained stable across age groups. The notable exception was herd rank — the proportion of horses reported to have lost social position within their herd increased from 25% in the youngest group to 41% in horses aged 30 and older. Compatibility with owners actually improved with age, with 33% of owners reporting increased compatibility in their senior horses.

Feeding

Feeding practices showed the most pronounced age-related differences. Long-fiber dry roughage — the standard form of hay — declined from 90% in the 20–24 group to 69% in horses aged 30 and older. Pre-chopped dry roughage increased sharply, from 21% in the youngest group to 73% in the oldest. This likely reflects practical adaptations to age-related changes in chewing ability, though dental data was not included in this analysis.

Mineral and vitamin supplementation also declined with age — from 51% in the youngest group to 35% in the oldest — and was less common in retired horses than in those still in work. The researchers note this pattern does not fully align with current feeding recommendations, which suggest that older horses may have increased supplementation needs rather than reduced ones.

How to apply this in your riding, training, and care

Whether you own a senior horse, manage one in a lesson program, or are preparing a horse for retirement, the practical implications of this research are direct.

On feeding: The shift toward pre-chopped roughage for older horses reflects a real management need — as horses age, their ability to process long-stem fiber often declines. If you have a horse over 25, it is worth assessing whether their current roughage form is appropriate for their dental health and body condition, even in the absence of obvious symptoms. The decline in mineral and vitamin supplementation with age is worth particular attention — current guidelines suggest senior horses may need more targeted supplementation, not less. If your older horse is retired or less active, that is not a reason to simplify their nutrition without veterinary guidance.

On social contact: The data reinforces what behavioral science consistently shows — most horses need full tactile social contact, not just visual proximity. If management constraints limit group turnout for your senior horse, consider what alternatives exist for meaningful social interaction. Fence-line contact is better than isolation but is not equivalent.

On activity: The fact that over 60% of horses aged 20 and older were still ridden or driven — and that most retired horses were still receiving groundwork — is an important counterweight to assumptions about senior horses. Reduced activity in older horses may reflect management decisions more than physical limitation. Structured, appropriate exercise remains beneficial for older horses, and complete inactivity is the exception rather than the norm.

On herd rank: If your older horse has lost position in a group, this is worth monitoring. Changes in social rank can reflect underlying health issues — pain, reduced mobility, or chronic disease — that may not yet be clinically obvious. A horse that has dropped in herd status is not necessarily suffering, but it warrants closer observation and veterinary attention if the change is sudden or accompanied by other behavioral shifts.

On grooming: The decline in grooming frequency for the oldest horses may reflect practical realities of horse ownership, but daily grooming is one of the most effective tools for early detection of health changes in senior horses. Maintaining regular hands-on contact with an older horse — regardless of whether they are ridden — supports welfare and early intervention.

Read the original study

Czerner AC, Lindner A, Zeyner A, Wensch-Dorendorf M, Gehlen H. Geriatric Horses in Germany: Approaches to Nutrition, Housing and Overall Care. Animals. 2026; 16(5):813. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16050813