Aging Gracefully: A Comfort Plan for Senior Horses

Recognize the Signs of Discomfort
Keep your horse on a schedule for regular veterinary checkups, including a dental exam, at least twice a year. A regular worming program will also help to keep them healthy. 

Senior horses are masters at hiding aches and pains, but subtle changes in behavior can speak volumes. Look out for:

• Stiffness at the start of movement or after rest
  
• Reluctance to be groomed or pick up feet
  
• Becoming head shy for no reason when trying to touch their face or mouth
  
• Weight loss
  
• Changes in attitude, appetite, or herd dynamics
  
• Mild swelling in joints or heat in the legs
  
• Signs of loss of sight or hearing

Being proactive with care rather than waiting for signs to intensify can make a world of difference. Always consult with your veterinarian when in doubt.

Daily Support with a Rub-Down or Wrap
Liniments are an essential tool in the senior horse's comfort kit. Regular liniment use can help soothe tired muscles, ease stiffness, and support healthy circulation.

An herbal liniment offers fast-acting relief for sore muscles and joints, swelling, and stiffness, and can ease tissue pain and swelling caused by arthritis. It can be used under wraps or as a bath brace post-work to refresh and cool the legs. Just remember, when you wrap, don’t rub.

A good choice is Absorbine® Veterinary Liniment. Developed in 1892, it remains one of the world’s most popular liniments for horses.

Ease Achiness and Maintain Comfort Naturally
When managing occasional aches and pains without pharmaceuticals, Absorbine® Bute-Less® Comfort & Recovery is a trusted solution. Its herbal, plant-based formula includes devil’s claw, yucca, and vitamin B-12, supporting a healthy inflammatory response while being gentle on the stomach—ideal for long-term use in older horses.

Great for:

• Daily maintenance for comfort
• Supporting recovery after light exercise or turnout

Bute-Less comes in a paste, solution, pellets, or a 1-ounce syringe for on-the-go relief. Bute-Less® Performance Comfort & Recovery Supplement Pellets is the choice for horses actively competing.

Fill Nutritional Gaps
Aging can affect nutrient absorption, and senior horses often need extra support to maintain healthy joints, weight, and immune function. A supplement developed specifically for aging horses includes ingredients like omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, MSM, ginkgo, probiotics, and antioxidants 

Key benefits:

• Joint and soft tissue support with glucosamine.
  
  

• Digestive health with natural pre- and probiotics.
  
  

• Healthy coat and immune function from omega-3s.

A great pick is The Missing Link® Well Blend® Senior Supplement, a targeted superfood for ageing horses that includes all the mentioned and suggested ingredients. The Missing Link supports mobility, digestion, brain function and overall vitality.

Best Practices

Consistent Grooming
Gentle grooming keeps you connected to your senior horse, boosts circulation, helps you monitor changes in body condition and can give you clues to developing issues.

Regular Vet Check-Ups
Look to your veterinarian to assess dental health, manage weight, evaluate joint function or metabolic shifts, and keep them in tip-top shape.

Adjust Diet and Turnout
Ensure your feed is senior-appropriate, turnout is safe, and shelter is always accessible, especially in extreme temperatures. When the temperatures rise, provide a fan or give them a cooling bath. 

Aging Gracefully with the Right Support Older horses may slow down, but they don't have to be sidelined. With the guidance of your veterinarian, a thoughtful daily routine and the appropriate products, your senior partner can stay comfortable, content, and connected to you and the life they love. Because every ride, every nuzzle, and every day counts—especially in the golden years.