“Smokey’s slowing down,”

my client tells me. “I just don’t understand it; he’s only 25. Last year we rode mountain trails all summer long and he never missed a beat.”

“You’re really lucky!” I respond. “Smokey is the equivalent of an 80-yearold man. Imagine taking your grandpa on a long mountain hike! I’m sure you’ve been building up your 401(k) and have your own retirement plans in place. Have you thought about a plan for your horse as he grows older?”

Believe it or not, this is a common conversation. And while a rare 80-yearold man is still running marathons, most have slowed down—at least a little bit. The same is true for horses. While a rare 25-plus-year-old horse is still out there competing or doing hard mountain rides, most have turned it down a notch—either fulfilling a less demanding job or even being completely retired.

So how do you know when your horse is ready to slow down? And when the time comes, what are you going to do? In this article I’ll help you make a retirement plan for your horse. First, I’ll outline the most common reasons why your horse might need to slow down. Then, I’ll explain what steps you might consider before you make the move to full retirement. Finally, I’ll give you a step-by-step guide to help you plan his future (on page 52).

Slowing Down

There’s just no avoiding Father Time. No matter how healthy (and sound) we are, the aging process gets us all sooner or later. If we’re lucky, that time is later—and as humans we can maintain (or curtail) our activities according to how we feel. A horse, however, is dependent on his human to understand his needs. The three most important factors to consider when planning for your horse’s future include soundness, disease, and simply growing old.

SOUNDNESS

Most riding horses experience some type of soundness problem at one or more times in their lives. If your horse has been diagnosed with a chronic lameness such as arthritis or degenerative navicular disease that you’ve been managing for years, there’s a good chance it’ll become more difficult to maintain his soundness over time. Eventually, it’ll become either impossible to keep him sound enough to do his job or require more intervention than seems fair or reasonable. If you begin to wonder whether you’ve reached this point, it’s time to have a conversation with your veterinarian about options for your horse’s future.

Acute injuries can also have an impact on your horse’s ability to do his job—especially if they’re severe. A fracture or severe soft-tissue injury with a poor long-term prognosis for recovery can be a devastating reason for early retirement.

DISEASE

Your horse may be a youngster in your eyes, but if he’s been diagnosed with a chronic condition such as Cushing’s disease, experiences a severe colic that requires surgery, or has any degree of organ failure, chances are he’ll age more rapidly. He’ll lose muscle tone and overall condition that can impact his performance. You’ll probably be able to keep him working, but he may not be as up to the job and could face retirement sooner than you’d hoped.

OLD AGE

Even if your horse is perfectly sound and healthy, by the time he reaches the double-digits, he’ll start to feel his age. His connective tissues begin to weaken, it’s harder for him to chew and digest food, and it takes more effort to keep him fit. Your older horse’s performance may start to decline, or he might become crabby about his work.

It’s especially important that you pay attention to the subtle signs he sends your way, and begin to make adjustments to his work demands that will help to keep him happy and comfortable. →