Did you know horses can live for decades? We take a look at their lifespan and discover a record breaker <\/p>
Horses can live for a few decades and it’s not unusual for them to reach their 30s. However, on average, horses have a lifespan of about 25-30 years. In rare cases they have been known to live into their 50s.<\/p>
When horses reach 15 years old, they are usually considered to have entered into old age.<\/p>
On average, ponies live longer than horses, with Shetland ponies averaging ages of 30-35 years old, while thoroughbred horses have a shorter expected lifespan of around 25 years.<\/p>
The oldest horse ever on record was the cob Old Billy from Cheshire, who died at 62, a staggering age for a horse, in 1822. His skull now rests in the Manchester Museum. Other famous aged veterans include the racehorses Red Rum, who died aged 30, and Desert Orchid, who died aged 27. <\/p>
How long a horse lives, likes humans, depends predominantly on their health, with factors such as nutrition, veterinary care and activity levels all playing a part. Domesticated horses, who usually have these health requirements attended to, are therefore more likely to live longer than their wild counterparts.<\/p>
Ever wondered if\u00a0horse riding is a sport?<\/a>\u00a0Or are you curious about the ins and outs of equine ownership? If so, check out our feature about\u00a0how much it costs to own a horse<\/a>.<\/p>