Horses are magnificent creatures. The oldest ancestors of wild horses evolved nearly four million years ago and ran in large herds across grasslands. It was believed that the Spanish were among the first to domesticate and bring horses to the Americas. However, as research has revealed over the last several years, indigenous peoples of what is now the United States were domesticating horses long before the Spaniards introduced them.
Wild and domesticated horses from centuries ago were not expected to have incredibly long lives, given the conditions in which they lived and the veterinary care available at the time. However, one horse during that time became the oldest horse in history, and thanks to advances in both medical care and care for aging horses, these beautiful animals can live relatively long lives.
Old Billy Lived to the Ripe Old Age of 62
Old Billy, a horse similar to this Shire, lived to be 62 years old.
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The oldest horse to ever live was named Old Billy. Also known as Billy during his younger years, Old Billy was born in Cheshire, England, in 1760. He was described as a brown and white horse and was believed to be a Cob or Shire. Billy’s job was to pull barges up and down canals in the region. He became a local celebrity not only because of his job, but also for just how long Old Billy had been performing it. Old Billy lived until he was 62 years old, passing away in November 1822. Old Billy may be the oldest horse to have ever lived, but there are a few other horses who have also lived to an old age. Those horses include:
| Name of Horse | Age of Horse |
| Sugar Puff | 56 years old |
| Shayne | 51 years old |
| Orchid | 49 years old |
While these horses are the exception rather than the rule in terms of longevity, with proper care during each life stage, horses can live for many decades.
Life Stages of a Horse
Horses go through five different stages during their lifetimes.
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Horses go through a variety of life stages. These stages not only determine how the horses are cared for, but also when they can be removed from their mothers and when they can be trained.
The life stages of a horse include:
| Life Stage | Age | Description Of Life Stage |
| Newborn | Birth to four months old | Dependent on the mother for nutrition. |
| Weanling | Four months to seven months old | Move away from mother for nutrition and begin to eat grains and forage for food. Can also begin to wear a halter and get used to veterinary care. |
| Youth | Seven months to three years old | Three to 15 years old |
| Adult | Three years to 15 years old | Horses have fully grown and are in their peak performance years. |
| Geriatric | 15+ years old | Will begin to have less energy and require preventative care. |
For those who have not had a horse since birth, it can be difficult to tell just how old a horse is. However, there are ways to at least give a decent time frame so that proper care can be given to the horse based on its age.
How to Determine a Horse’s Age
Examining a horse’s teeth is one way to tell how old they are.
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It can be hard to determine a horse’s age by sight alone. While the difference is clear between a foal and a senior horse, simply looking at an adult and senior horse may not tell the difference in age. Consequently, other methods need to be used to give an approximate age of a horse, if not documented at birth.
One of the most common methods for determining a horse’s general age is looking at its teeth. Teeth alone will not give a specific age. However, given that teeth begin to have wear patterns at certain ages, a general timeframe of age can be given after a thorough teeth examination.
The best timeframes that can be given for a horse’s age via their teeth are the following:
- Birth to age four
- Age five to age 10
- Age 10 to age 15
- Above 15 years of age
There are a few ways to further break down a horse’s age and potentially be able to give a better age range. However, factors such as what a horse eats, its breed, genetics, and the quality of its maintenance can impact the horse’s teeth. Consequently, a horse can appear older via their teeth than they really are.
Some further characteristics veterinarians look at when aging a horse by their teeth include:
| Age Of Horse | Tooth | Changes In Tooth |
| One year old | Central incisors | Teeth are fully erupted |
| Three-year-old | Central incisors | Four-year-old |
| Teeth begin to look more square | Central incisors | Teeth begin to take on a triangular shape |
| Six-year-old | Central incisors | Teeth take on a rectangular shape |
| Five-year-old | Central incisors | Teeth are completely rectangular |
| Six year old | Corner incisors | Teeth begin to show signs of wear and become oval-shaped |
| Eight-year-old | Corner incisors | Corners of teeth become more worn, and the oval shape remains |
| Corners of teeth become more worn, and oval shape remains | Corner incisors | Corners of teeth become further worn until a triangular shape forms |
In addition to teeth, it is possible to tell that horses are getting older by observing whether their fur is turning gray, if they are losing muscle tone, and if there are sunken areas above the eyes. Conversely, younger horses will appear to have legs that are out of proportion with their bodies, which will not change until horses are approximately five years of age. Timeframes may be sufficient for some horse owners, given the long lifespan of horses, which can vary based on the breed.
Average Age of Horses
On average, horses live to be between 25 and 30 years old.
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On average, horses typically have a lifespan of somewhere between 25 and 30 years. With some horses living longer and others not living quite as long, it is hard to say exactly how long a horse will live. However, it is fair to say that if the horse is healthy, it will be a part of a person’s life for decades.
What some may not realize is that the breed of the horse plays a significant role in how long a horse will live. While how long a horse lives is also dependent on factors other than breed alone, knowing the genetic makeup of a horse helps horse owners know how long a horse will be in its geriatric years and how best to make a horse comfortable as it ages. Some of the average ages of different breeds of horses, according to Willowbrook Riding Centre, include:
| Horse Breed | Average Lifespan |
| American Quarter Horse | 25 years to 30+ years |
| Arabian | 25 years to 35+ years |
| Clydesdale | 25 years to 30+ years |
| Friesian | 16 years to 25+ years |
| Icelandic | 30 years to 40+ years |
| Lipizzaner | 25 years to 30+ years |
| Shetland | 30 years to 40+ years |
| Thoroughbred | 20 years to 25+ years |
| Welsh Pony | 30 years to 40+ years |
| Wild Mustang | 15 years to 20 years |
Just from this list, it is clear that the breed of horse does play a significant role in how long a horse will live. However, breed is not the only factor that dictates a horse’s lifespan. There are plenty of other factors that contribute to a horse’s lifespan as well.
Factors That Determine How Long a Horse Can Live
Proper health and hygiene are necessary for horses to live long lives.
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In addition to breed, several other factors influence the lifespan of a horse. This is why things like annual veterinary checkups are important, so that any signs of ill health can be dealt with as soon as they present. A 2016 study out of Purdue University found that the main reason given for the euthanasia of a horse is “old age.” However, this seems to be a catch-all term and does not paint the complete picture of what led to the horse’s ultimate demise.
According to Margaret (Peg) Miller, DVM, PhD, from Purdue University’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology and Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Indiana, and lead author on the study, it is necessary to know of any underlying conditions horses suffer from, so that they can receive proper treatment once they begin to enter the geriatric years.
“To provide better care to aged horses, we need a better understanding of what diseases they suffer and to determine the actual cause of death rather than simply ascribing it to old age,” Miller explains to Habitat for Horses.
Some of the factors, other than breed, that determine how long a horse will live include:
- The type of nutrition the horse has
- Dental health
- Health of hooves
- Veterinary care received
- The type of workload the horse had throughout its life
As horses age, they become more susceptible to disease and other health conditions. However, these diseases and conditions are not always detected, leading some to believe that poor health is simply a result of the horse’s age. Some of the most common health issues older horses contend with include:
- Laminitis (foundering)
- Cushing’s disease
- Equine Metabolic Syndrome
- Equine recurrent uveitis (moon blindness)
- Arthritis
- Colic
- Increased parasites
- Tumors
To ensure that horses are not only comfortable during their younger years but also in their senior years, it is necessary to have regular check-ups with veterinarians. Additionally, if horses have a sudden change in behavior, appetite, or energy levels, contacting a veterinarian is recommended so that any health issues can be caught early and horses can live the long lives they were meant to have.
