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Geriatric Horses
Horses May Be Old,
But Not Ready To Retire
"Old Billy," an English draft horse that died at the age of 62, is the longest living horse according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Although most horse owners know their hoofed friends probably will not make it into the record books for longevity, with a little TLC geriatric horses can live a happy and fulfilling life.
Dr. Jill Eyles is an equine surgery intern at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in Urbana. "I would consider most horses geriatric by 20," she explains, although old is a relative term depending upon the use of the horse. For example, racehorses are old by age five or six, but for a hunter jumper that is still young.
Just as with humans, there is no age at which retirement should be mandatory. Actually, "regular exercise is the best thing for horses that are sound enough to do so," advises Dr. Eyles. Pay attention to how your horse feels when exercised. If it still has the ability and the heart to canter you around, then don't let its age make you say "whoa!"
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