Have you ever thought about how to estimate a horse’s age? When interacting with horses, their age is a very important factor for humans. Ignoring the age can lead to issues like overexertion or giving inappropriate food, which can cause various problems.
In this article, we’ll explain in detail how to check a horse’s age. By reading this, you’ll understand how to read a horse’s age and how it compares to human years, which can help you enjoy a better riding experience.
You Can Tell by Looking at the Teeth!
It is said that a horse’s age can be roughly estimated by its teeth. However, to accurately determine age via teeth, certain basic knowledge is essential, such as: “Baby teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth by around 5-6 years old,” and “Adult horses have 40 teeth (stallions) or 36 teeth (mares), excluding wolf teeth).”
Knowing these details allows for a rough estimate of a horse’s age by counting its permanent teeth. Let’s take a look at a horse’s teeth in detail!
How to Calculate a Horse’s Age
Horse ages do not increase each year like human birthdays. Instead, a horse’s age is counted as 0 from the moment it is born until December 31st, and then it becomes 1 on January 1st. Horses born in the same year all turn one on January 1 of the following year.
It’s important to note that there has been a change in how horse ages are calculated over time. Currently, a horse is considered 0 at birth, but before 2001, horses were aged from 1 at birth. Due to the internationalization of horse racing and differences between Japanese and overseas methods, Japan shifted to the current system in 2001.
If You Convert Horse Age to Human Years…
There is a significant difference between a 20-year-old human and a 20-year-old horse. While 20 is a prime age for humans, it can be a sign of aging in horses. So, what age in human years would a 20-year-old horse correspond to?
The following article explains a simple way to calculate this. Knowing the human equivalent age of your horse can help you care for it better!
Horse Age is About Six Times Human Age
In general, a horse’s age is calculated as six times the human age until about 3 years old. From age 4 onward, it’s about three times. For example, a 3-year-old horse is roughly equivalent to an 18-year-old human, and a 15-year-old horse is about a 54-year-old human. The simplified formula is:
(Horse age – 3)×3 + 18 = Human age
This explains why many racehorses retire around age 5-7 and why the typical lifespan is around 25 years.
How to Estimate Age by Appearance Other Than Teeth
In the previous section, we introduced an estimate of age based on the number of teeth. But opening a horse’s mouth or counting its teeth can be difficult. Therefore, this section introduces some simple methods to roughly estimate age based on appearance, which are as follows:
・0~3 years → Small body, underdeveloped muscles, and a youthful face.
・3~7 years → Fully grown muscles, shiny coat.
・7~15 years → Gradual mellowing, increased likelihood of injuries.
・15~25 years → Deterioration of muscles, protruding bones, thinning coat.
If you remember these points, you can roughly estimate a horse’s age. Give it a try!
Summary
This article provided a detailed explanation of how to determine a horse’s age. Knowing the age of a horse you interact with can make your care more meaningful, whether comparing it to your own age or recognizing an older horse. It also encourages careful feeding and injury prevention for aged horses. By deepening your understanding of horse age, you can become a more responsible rider!
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