How long do horses live: averages at home and table

Hardy, graceful and loyal, horses are desirable pets for many owners. A miniature pony or a sophisticated aristocratic horse is quite capable of becoming not only a pet for a person, but also a real true friend. And in order for these friends to please with their presence for as long as possible, it is useful to find out how long domestic and wild horses live?

Mean horse life

Specialists in the study of horses (hippologists) and horse breeders disagree about the lifespan of these animals. According to one opinion, these creatures live 25-30 years. Other experts are sure that horses can live 35-40 years.

It should be understood that there is no single number. It is impossible to compare an individual that grew up in the wild, and a thoroughbred horse, which a loving owner carefully raises for exhibitions. The number of lived years of a breeding stallion and a sport horse will also be different, although both are under the care of a person. Subject to all conditions, horses can stay with their owner for 15-40 years. But not every animal is able to live to such a venerable age.

In the wild

A wild horse lives commensurately less than a domestic one. And all because wild individuals have to survive in a harsh climate, adapt to the vagaries of nature and protect themselves from predators. Unbroken mustangs eat poorly, especially in winter. Many individuals die from diseases and infections, because there is no one to treat these creatures.

Did you know? Of the wild foals born in a year, only 30% survive to maturity. The rest die due to disease, predators and injury.

The climate is also considered important. Horses living in warm regions live 10 years longer than those who have to survive in the vastness of the harsh North. Here, many mustangs die before reaching the age of ten. On average, wild horses live 15-20 years. "Southerners" are able to live up to 25 years, and "northerners" - up to 15 or less.

At home

Horses that live close to humans are more likely to grow old. After all, the owner takes care of their diet, protects them from bad weather and treats diseases. The life expectancy of domestic individuals is about 20-25 years, with good care - 35-40 years.

What factors can affect longevity?

The longevity of domestic horses depends on a number of factors. This includes the quality of care for the animal, the conditions of detention and the degree of stress it performs.

Conditions and care

The longevity of a horse is very closely related to the conditions in which it is kept. The breeder should keep in mind a few important factors:

1. Dry and clean in the stable. Being in a damp, dirty dwelling, horses get sick faster. These animals have swollen legs, inflamed joints.
2. Tooth and hoof care. Failure to properly chew solid food can lead to malnutrition and colic. The owner of an aging horse should pay special attention to his teeth. Indeed, by the age of 20, the animal's teeth can wear out, which makes chewing food difficult for an elderly pet. To prevent these problems, the horse should be examined by a veterinarian annually. The specialist grinds the horse's teeth to prevent wear. Hooves should be trimmed every 6-8 weeks. This is very important for horses whose hooves lack natural wear.
3. Fight against parasites. Horses often suffer from the presence of helminths.In the intestines of a horse, scars often remain in places where worms have attached to the tissues. As a result, intestinal patency narrows, and the quality of food digestion becomes low. If parasites are not eliminated in time, their long stay in the animal's body can provoke serious problems, sometimes even fatal colic. For horses of any age, systematic deworming is important. The schedule of this procedure is best coordinated with the veterinarian.

Note. A pet horse should be regularly examined by a veterinarian. This applies not only to those cases when the animal is sick. Observation of a specialist every six months will help to track the early signs of the disease. The veterinarian schedules vaccinations and deworming and, if necessary, recommends a diet.

Diet

Quality nutrition is the key to the he alth and longevity of the horse. It is important to provide your pet with a balanced and nutritious diet. Traditional horse food are:

• green fodder in summer (freshly cut, slightly dried grass);
• high quality hay;
• cereals (barley, oats);
• compound feed.

Breed

Representatives of different breeds of horses differ in their life expectancy:

1. Purebred horses. They can live 30 years or more. Their longevity is often the result of special care shown by the owner in relation to such a pet.
2. Domestic work horses. If the loads placed on them are moderate, such individuals are able to live 20-25 years.
3. Draft breeds, ponies. Their life is usually measured, and therefore lasts a long time - 30-38 years.
4. Sport horses. It is impossible to predict their lifespan. These animals can live 10 or 30 years.It all depends on the care of the owner, the intensity of classes and the type of sport. A breeder can get too carried away with training, and the horse will become seriously ill, injured or killed from overload.

Animal use and exercise

A horse is an animal that must constantly be in motion. If the owner neglects this fact and leaves his pet in the stable for a long time, the horse's muscles may atrophy. Daily walks in the air are necessary for a horse, regardless of its age. As a result, the pet's muscles will always be in good shape, and the joints will remain flexible. It is especially important for young stallions to stretch their joints and muscles, to release accumulated energy. Such pets need to walk at least 2 times a day.

Passivity is dangerous for a horse, but physical overload is no less dangerous. Hard work shortens the life of a horse and undermines its he alth.

People use horses in various activities:

1. Sport. Horse riding is one of the most popular sports. But it is also considered one of the most dangerous, both for the horse and for the owner. Sport horses have a relatively short lifespan compared to their domestic counterparts.
2. Work in the field. In the villages, horses are still used today as draft animals for agricultural work. If the tasks performed are not too hard for the horse, and the owner does not overload it excessively, such animals may well meet a ripe old age.
3. Mounted police. In some states, horses are paired with police officers. Such work carries risks, as does the work of the police themselves.
4. Hippotherapy. Contact with horses is often used to restore the state of mind of disabled and autistic children. These horses are usually cared for and do not perform hard work.
5. Tribal breeding. The highest caste of horses and mares used for offspring.

Determining the age of a horse

Breeders and just horse lovers who plan to buy an adult animal should be able to determine the age of the future pet. This procedure is not the easiest and sometimes requires specialist advice.

The most important criterion for determining the age of a horse is the condition of its teeth. For accurate diagnosis, you should know the features of their appearance and placement:

1. White milk teeth are gradually replaced by permanent ones by 2.5-5 years. The latter have a yellowish-cream tint. The teeth of individuals 20 years of age or older gradually turn brown.
2. Long, coarse hairs on the nose and around the lips are found in horses and mares over 10 years old.
3. After 5 years, horse teeth begin to tilt and grow at an angle. In individuals of advanced age (from 20 years old), the angle of inclination becomes sharper.
4. In a horse older than 12 years, the shape of the incisors on the lower jaw changes - they become more rounded. After 15 years, the incisors gradually take on a triangular shape.

You should also pay attention to the features of the animal's appearance:

1. Tight skin, lack of folds, bulging muscles, shiny coat - a horse or mare no more than 12 years old.
2. Compacted joints hint either at the horse's injuries or at its venerable age. The first case can be traced - when walking, the horse will experience pain.
3. Protruding ears and drooping lips mean that the horse will soon meet old age.

Horse age in human terms

The ratio of human and horse years is a relative and average concept. You can calculate the number of horse years in relation to human years by referring to the table:

12 years1 year19 years (+7 years from previous year)2 years31 years (+4 years every year)3, 4, 5 years+ 2.5 years every year5 and more years

Human	Horse

It is easy to calculate that the age of a twenty-year-old horse by human standards will be 68 years.

Record longevity

The most famous long-liver among horses is Old Bill, who lived in the 19th century. This animal, being a purebred draft worker, managed to live up to 62 years. The record holder of the 21st century is the mare Pushinka, who died in 2007 at the age of 57.

In 1919, a certain French pony gave birth to a foal at the age of 42 and died 4 years later - at 46 years old. The father of the foal from whom she gave birth to a pony was 54 years old. This pair also did not belong to the elite purebred breeds.Representative of the Austrian purebred breed - Duke Tango - lived to 42 years.

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