Such an indicator as the horse's lifespan plays an important role for the owner of the animal. Valuable individuals in terms of working qualities and origin are created the conditions for the maximum possible extension of their life. Moreover, it is not the fact of the animal’s existence that matters, but its ability to bear offspring.
Average performance
The average life span of a horse ranges from 20-40 years. Such a spread in numbers is explained by the conditions of keeping, breed, heredity and use of animals. Pedigree live up to 30 years, race - up to 20, and among small ponies 40-year-old individuals are not uncommon, work horses can “reach” 25 years. Units survive to such an advanced age.
|
Horse breed |
average life expectancy |
Influencing factors |
|
Sports |
7-15 |
Constant exhausting training, stress from participating in competitions |
|
Workers |
18-20 |
Monotonous work |
|
Tribal |
20-25 |
Increased care for valuable items |
|
Pony |
40-45 |
Calm measured life |
Of course, every owner of a valuable horse wants to see his pet in good physical shape for as long as possible. Unfortunately, not everyone, even breeding horses kept in ideal conditions, has time to grow old. Most of the stock is simply discarded due to the loss of economic value. This is due to injuries sustained during his sports career. Sometimes they are so serious that they even apply euthanasia to young animals.
Factors Affecting Life Span
The life span of a horse depends on the following factors:
- Conditions of detention. Warm, dry, spacious stall with a good clean litter will protect the animal from many problems. Horses are afraid of dampness and drafts. Daily (at least two hours) exercise in a spacious levada will help maintain good physical shape.
- Feeding. Permanent free access to clean water, providing the animal with the necessary micro and macro elements, vitamins, and good quality feeds are mandatory conditions for keeping a horse. A properly selected diet in accordance with the loads that it carries, will help maintain the body in the right condition and provide energy for the job.
- Breed. Ponies are considered centenarians. Among pedigree horses, the Arabian breed holds the palm in terms of life expectancy (average). Its representatives often live up to 30 years.
- Job. The life span of a horse can be significantly reduced during overwork. Too much pulling force, overstrain during training (jumping, jumping and others) can cause irreparable harm to the body. It is impossible to demand from a young, insufficiently prepared, horse the fulfillment of tasks impossible for her. This can lead to injuries, and they, in turn, will force the animal to be rejected (sent for slaughter) as unsuitable for further use.
- Care. Daily cleaning, bathing after training, clearing hooves and forging, timely preventive veterinary measures and providing necessary assistance in case of illness - all this ensures the horse a comfortable and long life.
Workers
How much horses live on average, carrying various workloads (cultivating the land, transporting cargo, including packs), mainly depends on its owner. At home, a workhorse, as a rule, survives to 20-25 years. Excessive stress, lack of rest, poor feeding, and unsatisfactory conditions may be the main reasons for shortening an animal’s life.
An important role in increasing the life span can also be played by heredity. Indigenous breeds, more adapted to a specific climatic environment, more easily tolerate physical activity and conditions. Individual endurance also matters. It is the workhorse that holds the record of longevity - 62 years, of which 58 years the horse carried physical activity - dragged barges along the river.
Tribal
How many breeding horses live on average depends on the breed of animals and their sporting use. Arab and Akhal-Teke are among the leaders, representatives of these breeds often live up to 30 years. It's not just about keeping horses, but also about genetic inheritance. The endurance of animals of both breeds is legendary.
The conditions of upscale breeding horses are close to ideal. The stallions are kept individually, and the herd of mares receives the maximum possible care. Reproductive abilities of females and males can remain until old age. Breeders are interested in increasing the life expectancy of animals, income directly depends on this. Especially valuable by origin individuals are able to “make money” of their master.
Sporting pedigree horses have been released a century shorter. Some animals can live up to 30 years, but this is more an exception than a rule. An example is the purebred Budynok, who lived 32 years (born in 1926, fell in 1958). The famous Oryol trotter, Kvadrat, lived at the Moscow stud farm for up to 30 years, leaving behind almost 600 heirs. The competitive mare named Hull (German rider Hans Winkler spoke at it), despite her rich sports career steeplechase, triathlon, show jumping, was able to live to 34 years (1945-1979). After the end of her sports career, she gave birth to 8 healthy foals.
Intensive training, constant stress at competitions lead to numerous injuries. The cause of the death of the animal may be colic, pain, rupture of the lungs, cardiac arrest. In other equestrian sports, injuries are also common, especially in show jumping and eventing. The average lifespan of a horse-athlete ranges from 18-20 years.
Horses that have shown outstanding results can count (if health permits) for a quiet, secure old age. Very often, grateful owners are ready to keep their pets to the end, despite significant financial costs.
Wild
How many wild horses live in the natural environment, largely depends on the climatic zone. The mild and warm climate "gives" the animals an extra 7-10 years of life. In severe northern latitudes, the chances of surviving a cold winter are less. In addition to weather conditions, predators, various diseases, accidental injuries, lack of sufficient feed, and wear of hooves “participate” in natural selection. In nature, age horses are rare. The average life expectancy of "savages" does not exceed 15 years.
Age determination
How to determine the age of the horse by the dental formula is known mainly to specialists. The quantity and quality of erupted teeth (milk or permanent), their degree of wear allow you to know the age of the animal with an accuracy of several months. When comparing with the documents on the birth of a horse, there may be discrepancies, since worldwide the condition of birth for all horses is considered January 1. Even if the baby was born in December, since the new year has come, it is considered one year old.
Visually and by appearance, you can notice the venerable age of the horse:
- sagging back;
- gray hair near the eyes, in the mane, tail, on the chin;
- flabby muscles;
- the presence of folds on the skin;
- thickened joints;
- due to weakened muscles, the ears stand apart, and the lower lip noticeably droops;
- no energy in motion.
By human standards
The age of horses in translation to human is calculated as follows:
- the first year is equal to 12 years of a person;
- the second to seven;
- third, fourth, fifth - 4 years each;
- all subsequent - 2.5 years.
The recorded record is 62 years, which corresponds to 173.5 years of human age - a fantastic figure. Horses grow up to 4-6 years (depending on breed), the peak of their physical capabilities falls on 9 years of age. With proper maintenance, good working ability persists until 18-20 years.
