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A geriatric horse is an equine that has a physical and mental decline, which generally prevents it from being used for most equestrian activities. The age of a geriatric horse could vary according to breed and riding use, with old age occurring more rapidly in Thoroughbred sport horses than in hardy ponies. Geriatric horse signs include tooth eruption, whitening of certain areas of the head, arching of the back and stiffness of locomotion. The animal also becomes more sensitive to the passing of the seasons. From the 18th and 19th centuries onwards, the practice of hippophagy was no longer a religious prohibition in Europe, and older animals were sold to knackers or slaughtered for their meat. The gradual acquisition of pet status has led to other retirement options for these animals at the end of their lives. Retirements are more frequent, and geriatric horses can also be oriented towards gentle activities such as riding. A geriatric horse can pose an economic and ethical problem, as owners don't always anticipate their animal's longevity or the cost of maintaining it over the long term. This problem is at the root of frauds and swindles involving resale at the slaughterhouse. Longevity The life expectancy of the domesticated horse has increased thanks to better management of its diet and care, and a growing attachment to the animal. The average longevity of a horse is now between 25 and 30 years, with differences depending on breed and occupation. Ponies enjoy a significantly longer lifespan than horses, often exceeding 30 years old. Draft horses, Arabian and Iberian breeds live significantly longer than trotters and Thoroughbreds. Pierre Enoff claims that horses can live up to 50 years in the wild, a claim contradicted by studies of prehistoric equine bones, which show that they never exceed 15 to 20 years. Wild horses are subject to a variety of pressures that induce high mortality (hunger, thirst, predator attacks, etc.). The oldest known horse, Old Billy (1760-1822), died at the age of 62 and made the headlines in Manchester. He was a working horse of the Shire/Cob type. Longevity records are regularly reported for horses reaching 37 years (such as Bayou, a French horse of unknown origin), 42 years (such as Tango Duke, 1935-1978, an Australian Thoroughbred record-holder for this breed) or 51 years (such as Badger, a Welsh/Arabian cross, 1953-2004; and Shayne, an Irish Trait, 1962-2013). The pony record belongs to Sancho, another Welsh/Arabian cross who died at 54, in 2003. It was previously held by Steady Teddy, an American pony who died at 53. The age of death is only a subjective measure, which depends on different factors including diet, genetic inheritance, basic care and environment. In 2000, depending on the specialist, the age of a ‘geriatric horse’ could be 16, 18 or 20. According to William Martin-Rosset, after 3 years, a horse's age can be multiplied by three to obtain a human equivalent. A 20-year-old horse would therefore be roughly equivalent to a 60-year-old human. In the past, a horse was often considered ‘geriatric’ after 15 years, but it is now common for animals over 15 to be actively working. Although the age at which a horse becomes ‘geriatric’ is difficult to establish, veterinarians note that around 70 % of horses over the age of 20 require special care. Exceptions still exist, as some horses aged 25 and over can still be ridden and fed in the same way as any other. The classification of a geriatric horse depends on the occurrence of a health problem (typically osteoarthritis) and outward signs of aging, rather than on its age per se. Exceptionally, geriatric horses can remain competitive at high levels in particularly selective events. Nobby became world endurance champion at the age of 16. Signs of geriatric horses There are certain unmistakable signs of a geriatric horse. Determining a horse's age through observation was of vital importance at a time when horses were used for all aspects of daily life. For example, Le Nouveau Parfait Maréchal (18th century) recommends that to assess the animal age, it could be observed: the teeth, tail, forelock (hollow in old horses), lower jaw (more pronounced in geriatric horses) and white eyebrow hairs, among other things. Historically, horses between 5 and 8 years old were the most expensive, with the value of the animal gradually decreasing after 8 years. The presence of an almost white coat color, rare in young horses, was thus a clue to recognizing a horse over 8 years old. The back tends to arch, the withers and pelvic bones become more visible, and movements become stiffer as the horse gets older. Poor physical condition (thinness and/or round belly), lack of muscle and very sloping pasterns due to aging tendons and ligaments are all signs of a geriatric horse. The changes are not only physical, as the animal changes its eating habits and reactions to the environment, becoming indifferent to its fellow creatures and to human beings. Its whole rhythm of life slows down, it sleeps more and conserves its energy to resist climate and disease. Most of the signs of a geriatric horse that prevent it from being used to its full potential occur between the ages of 16 and 20. The most disabling and most frequent is a loss of locomotion, often a sign of osteoarthritis. In addition to the visible signs, the horse's five senses and its organs, including the respiratory, digestive and cardiovascular systems, also deteriorate. Mouth and teeth The horse's mouth and teeth are well known to change with age. The canines become dull, worn and yellow under the action of the bite. Teeth also appear longer and gaunt around the gums and claw incisors come forward as they emerge from the mouth almost horizontally. The palate becomes gaunt, and the grooves fade in geriatric horses. It used to be a popular belief that you could tell a horse's age by pushing out its lip and counting the creases, then the number of them supposedly being equal to its age. More scientifically, the lower lip of geriatric horses can be seen to sag. The observation of teeth is the most reliable criterion for assessing age in the absence of identification documents, and is the origin of the popular expression "don't look a gift horse in the mouth". However, it becomes difficult to estimate a horse's age from its teeth if it is more than 15 years old. Coat The presence of white hair on the head (around the eyes and muzzle) and sometimes on the body, reminiscent of the whitening of human hair, is another geriatric horse sign, as is the rougher feel of the hair. A dark horse with white eyebrow hair is usually over 15 years old. Older horses sometimes grow winter hair unusually abundantly, early or slowly. Management The question of how to manage older horses arises in the context of the horse's rapprochement with the pet and the proliferation of family leisure animals, particularly in Europe and the United States. In the past, the resale.... Discover the Audrey Pavia Janice Posnikoff Dvm popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Audrey Pavia Janice Posnikoff Dvm books.