# Geriatric Horses in Germany: Approaches to Nutrition, Housing and Overall Care

## TL;DR

This study explores how older horses in Germany are managed, focusing on feeding, housing, and social behavior as they age.

## Contribution

The study provides the first detailed survey-based insights into the management of horses aged 20 years and older in Germany.

## Key findings

- Older horses are less likely to be ridden and groomed as frequently as younger horses.
- Feeding practices shift with age, with older horses receiving more pre-chopped roughage and fewer supplements.
- Social rank within the herd declines with age, but most older horses remain in social groups.

## Abstract

In recent decades, more domestic horses appear to be reaching their natural lifespan, leading to a growing population of older animals requiring age-adapted care. However, little is known about how senior horses are managed in daily management practices. To better understand their situation in Germany, a nationwide online questionnaire was conducted among horse owners caring for horses aged over 20 years. The survey asked about housing, feeding, social contact, activity and daily care practices. More than 900 completed responses indicated differences in feeding practices between age groups: older horses were less frequently given long-fibre dry roughage and more frequently given pre-chopped dry roughage, reflecting owner-reported management practices for ageing horses. In addition to these age-related differences in feeding practices, behavioural and social changes were also reported, such as a lower position within the herd. Most older horses were nevertheless kept in social groups, and many remained active, although they were less often used for riding as age increased. Taken together, the data provide an overview of how older horses in Germany are currently kept and managed, and may help owners, veterinarians and trainers to adapt care and management practices to support the health and welfare of ageing horses.

Changes in horse management and use mean that a growing number of horses are now kept into older age, while age-specific management practices for these animals remain insufficiently documented. This cross-sectional online survey aimed to describe the housing, feeding, activity, behaviour and care routines of horses aged 20 years and older in Germany, based on 923 questionnaires completed by horse owners about their senior horses. Most horses maintained regular tactile social contact (87.4%, n = 805), and over half were still ridden or driven (61.6%, n = 566). However, the proportion of horses in active riding or driving use declined strongly with age, from 78% in 20–24-year-old horses to 57% in those aged 25–29 years and 34% in horses aged 30 years or older (p < 0.0001). Daily grooming likewise decreased with age, falling from 58% in the youngest age group to 40% in the oldest, while weekly grooming became more common (20–24 vs. ≥30 years: p < 0.0001; 25–29 vs. ≥30 years: p = 0.0017). Behavioural patterns were largely stable, although the proportion of horses reported to have lost social rank within the herd increased from 25% in 20–24-year-old horses to 41% in horses aged 30 years or older (20–24 vs. 25–29 years: p = 0.0050; 20–24 vs. ≥30 years: p = 0.0002). Feeding practices also showed pronounced age-related differences: the use of long-fibered dry roughage declined from 90% in the youngest group to 69% in the oldest, whereas the use of pre-chopped dry roughage increased from 21% to 73% (both p < 0.0001). The provision of mineral and vitamin supplements likewise decreased with age, from 51% of horses in the youngest group to 35% in the oldest (p = 0.0026). These findings indicate consistent differences between age groups in owner-reported management practices and highlight the importance of considering age when evaluating how older horses are managed.