Horse Lifespan Guide: From 20 Years to One Who Lived 62

Quick Take

• The common belief that bigger horses live shorter lives doesn't hold up the way most owners expect, and the rankings reveal a surprising pattern. See the biggest breed's lifespan →
• One breed carries a genetic eye trait found in no other horse on earth, and this trait affects more than just looks. Discover the tiger eye breed →
• Selective breeding is quietly shortening the lifespan of one of the world's most famous racehorses, and breeders may be responsible for the trend. See the Thoroughbred lifespan trend →
• The oldest horse ever recorded didn't just beat the average. It shattered it by a margin most owners would never believe possible. See the record-breaking Shetland →

If you are thinking about getting a horse, it is important to know your horse’s average lifespan. Knowing their lifespan can help you provide the best healthcare for them through the different stages to keep them healthy and happy. Perhaps you are just curious about how breeds differ in lifespan. With more than 300 breeds available, it can be tough to know which ones will live the longest. Of course, each animal is a unique individual and statistics show that some horses live longer than 40 years while others only live to be about 20.

As a general rule of thumb, large breed horses are thought to live shorter lifespans than smaller breeds and ponies. However, variations in lifespan can come from horses’ work, living conditions, susceptibility to disease, etc. Horses die for a handful of different reasons, not just old age, which needs to be kept in mind.

American Quarter Horse

American quarter horses live between 25 and 35 years. These animals are prized for their ability to run a quarter-mile, and they are often used in ranch work. They can run over 55 miles per hour for a short distance. They were developed in the 1660s. These animals come in all colors and stand about 56 to 64 inches tall and weigh about 950 to 1,200 pounds.

Appaloosa

Appaloosas live between 25 and 35 years. These animals come in many different colors, but each must have spots on its coat. This horse, the official state equine of Idaho, is shown in many western classes and used in ranch work. These animals stand about 60 inches tall and weigh between 950 and 1,250 pounds.

Tennessee Walker

Generally, the Tennessee walker lives to be between 28-and-33 years old. As the name implies, this gaited horse was developed in Tennessee and other southern United States locations in the late 18th century. Animals of this breed stand about 59 to 68 inches tall and weigh about 900 to 1,200 pounds. They are found in all solid and pinto colors. These animals, developed for plantation owners, have a unique running walk in which the rear feet naturally overstep the front hoof prints by 6 to 18 inches. When riding one of these horses, the rider has very little up-and-down motion yet travels between 10 and 20 miles per hour.

Paso Fino

Paso Finos generally live to be between 25 and 40 years old. The Paso Fino was developed in Puerto Rico and Colombia before 1797. These naturally gaited horses typically stand between 52 and 60.8 inches tall and weigh between 700 and 1,000 pounds. These animals, which can be any color, are the only breed in the world that can have a tiger eye, which gives the animal an orange-or-amber-colored eye — a trait unique to the Puerto Rican Paso Fino specifically, not Paso Finos as a whole. Paso Finos were developed for riding across plantations, and they are still loved for providing an almost motionless ride.

Percheron

Percherons originated in the Huisne river valley of the former Perche province in western France, and they live to be between 30-and-35 years old. They are generally gray or black, stand about 64 to 71 inches tall, and weigh about 1,900 to 2,100 pounds. These draft animals may date back to the 1st century, but it was not until Arabian blood was introduced to locally bred horses about 1760 that the breed became a heavy draft horse. They were often used for farm work, but most are used in advertising and to pull wagons at tourist attractions.

American Saddlebred

The American Saddlebred, who often lives between 30-and-35 years old, was developed in the United States before the American Revolutionary War. They stand about 62 inches tall and weigh about 950 pounds. These horses love to show and are often used as harness horses. They are the oldest breed of horse established in America.

American Standardbred

Developed in the United States during the 17th century, the American standardbred generally lives between 30-and-35 years. They stand about 62-inches tall and weigh about 900 pounds. While many of these animals trot, others pace. Some are used in harness racing while others are used in dressage. Many American standardbreds, like Kingsford, race for 13 years before retiring.

Thoroughbred

Thoroughbreds generally live between 30-and-35 years. This breed is often used in racing and also makes great jumping and eventing horses. The thoroughbreds known today were first developed in England during the 17th century. They stand about 66 inches tall and weigh about 1,000 pounds. Selective breeding may be lowering this average as more horses are raised for muscle mass, leading to more life-ending injuries. Tango Duke may have been the oldest thoroughbred ever. The Guinness Book of World Records says that this thoroughbred lived to be 42 years old, but that is still behind the nondescript Old Billy, who lived to be 62.

Trakehner

Trakehner horses often live to be between 30-and-35 years old. This breed was initially developed at Trakehnen, in present-day Yasnaya Polyana, Russia. Olympians have often used these horses in dressage, showjumping, and eventing. These horses stand about 68 inches tall and weigh about 1,200 pounds. It is known for its floating trot and soft canter.

Welsh Pony and Cob

Welsh cob horses often live over 35 years. These horses are native to Wales, where their existence is recorded before 1600 B.C. You can still see a small feral herd of these animals near Snowdonia, Wales. These horses vary in height from about 44-to-64 inches. They can be of various colors, with black, grey, chestnut, and bay being the most common. One of the oldest horses ever was Badger, who lived to be 51 years old. Badger was a white Welsh-Arabian cross who lived in Wales.

Cleveland Bay

The Cleveland Bay is the oldest established horse breed in Europe, and these horses often live to be over 40 years old. They are well-muscled horses that are often driven. Fewer than 20 of these horses are registered with the Cleveland Bay Horse Society each year. These animals should be bay with black legs. These warm-blood horses usually grow to be about 65 inches tall and weigh 1,450 pounds.

Shetland

The popular Shetland pony usually lives to be between 35-and-45 years old. This breed originated in the Shetland Isles about 1500 B.C. These horses that stand less than 42 inches tall were first developed to pull heavy carts. Today, they are a popular choice as a children’s riding pony. One of the oldest Shetland ponies to ever live was Ted E. Bear, who reportedly lived to be 58 years old.

Shire

The average shire horse lives to be between 35-and-45 years old. This horse that is usually black, grey, or bay is among the tallest and heaviest breeds in the world. While very similar animals were used long before, the Shire breed was officially named in the mid-17th century, and a breed registry was established in 1878. The largest to ever live may have been Mammoth, who was later renamed Samson—a shire who stood 7-feet-1-inch tall and weighed 3,360 pounds.

What Causes Death in Horses?

Many different things can cause death in horses, including:

• Osteoarthritis – Owners sometimes have to make the painful decision to put down their horse because of osteoarthritis. This chronic, progressive, painful degeneration of the cartilage lining the ends of long bones inside joints causes the horse to lose its ability to move gracefully.
• Chronic lameness – This condition, which causes changes to the hoof capsule, can result from neurologic or mechanical dysfunction or an unidentified source of pain.
• Colic – This is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that can come on suddenly or slowly.
• Heaves – This is a recurrent airway obstruction that is the most common lung disease seen in horses.
• Cushing’s disease – Also called pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, this disease causes the pituitary gland to produce excessive hormones. It is often diagnosed by symptoms including excessive drinking, failure to lose winter coat, and weight loss.

Horses are marvelous animals that live for a long time. If you are thinking about getting one, you can look forward to an unconditional bond. Before you make the decision, make sure you are ready for a long-term commitment.

Summary

Here is a summary of the lifespan of different horse breeds: