Ponies don’t all age at the same rate. Some of this is due to genetics, and some to the care they have received throughout their lives. Ponies are often called ‘senior’ when they reach the age of 15, but this is a huge generalisation, as many ponies remain youthful well into their mid-20s.
But, whatever the age, it is always worth checking your pony for signs of ageing, as the signs you see outside usually mirror changes that are happening on the inside. Signs of ageing don’t mean that your pony needs to retire, but just that he needs specific types of care for his stage in life. With proper care, attention, and consideration of your pony’s requirements and needs, many ponies can continue competing, even at an ‘old’ age.
Signs of ageing
Signs your pony is ageing include:
🩶 growing grey hair around the eyes and muzzle. This is much more obvious in ponies with a dark coat colour.
🩶 losing some skin tone, making the skin feel ‘loose’.
🩶 the hair becoming rougher, and the skin feeling thickened and dry.
🩶 skin wounds taking longer to heal.
🩶 developing a more ‘choppy’ gait, resulting from weaker muscles and arthritic joints. In these ponies, maintaining a reasonable exercise regime is more important than ever.
🩶 having a dipped back. This is due to slack musculature in the area and is called lordosis or ‘sway back’. Some ponies have it early on in life, so a dipped back is not a sign of old age on its own. However, newly developed dipped backs are generally caused by old age.
🩶 the depression above the eye becoming deeper.
🩶 energy levels dropping.
🩶 changes in appetite. Older ponies can become very picky. An older pony may need more food for energy, but we must ensure they don’t become overweight.
🩶 tooth issues. A pony’s diet may need changing to make up for his poor teeth.
Final thoughts
🩶 Even if your pony doesn’t look old, there can still be changes happening inside. Pay close attention and make sure you spot the signs when they occur so that they can be managed. Managing your pony’s ageing process can give the two of you much more quality time together, and, in our opinion, there isn’t anything more important than that. 🩶
