I'm just wondering what everyone thinks the average life expectancy of the horse is?
I often see people talk about the possibility of their horses dying at 20-25 years old, to me that seems middle age as my oldest is between 33-38 years old and my youngest is 14 this June..
How long do you think the normal horse lives? I always thought 35-40 was average lol
I would probably gestimate about 25 - 35 but I suppose it depends on how hard they were worked, how well cared for they are wtihout any unexpected illnesses coming up
So much depends on what breed the horse is, what kind of diet the horse has had, veterinary care, etc. I also believe that having one owner for a lifetime or very few has an impact on certain horses as well. There are emotional reasons for this, if you want to get airy fairy which I am to a degree, as well as the simple fact of consistency. Horses do well with consistency - diet, routine, home, person. I think that promotes good health as well.
I think for an average horse, that's had average care, maybe quite a few homes, perhaps a few dropped balls here and there nutritionally/teeth care/vet care wise along the way - twenties is average. For horses that have had exceptional and consistent care, your expectations of wellness into their thirties are not unfounded AT ALL!
I fully look forward to looking my guy in the eye when he's in his thirties. And knowing I did my best by him along the way. Cheers to that!
When people ask me, I say 25-30 is average but that it's not uncommon for horses to live to be 40.
I think it has a lot to do with how the horse has been cared for throughout his/her life, genetics, and just plain luck (ie, escaping "Murphy" - "what can go wrong, will").
I say 25-30 because that's the most commonly heard of, but some just live longer. I know a 25-year old QH/Arabian who could give a 3-year old TB a run for its money in speed and hotness. The vet said last year that he'd live well into his 30s.
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