Retired Performance Horse: Honour Beyond the Arena
- Jul 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 16
They may have stepped out of the spotlight, but they haven’t left the story.
Whether they carried you to ribbons, taught a young rider to trust, or simply ran their heart out for the joy of it—the retired performance horse deserves more than turnout and time. They deserve honour.
Here at Sound Advice we specialise in optimising health for retired and geriatric horses.
Performance horses are often successful because they are curious, bold, and thrive on challenges and novelty. Even though their joints and muscles might keep them from the arena, that doesn’t mean we can’t stimulate their minds.
Joint and Gut Support
Our supplements - formulated over 20 years - are all natural, and only contain active ingredients - no fillers or flavours.
Joint Care: Age can bring aches, but we can soften the journey. We have two joint supplements - Turmeric Joint Mix and Relief Mix. We have blended ingredients that are effective but affordable.
Glucosamine helps preserve joint cartilage, easing stiffness from years of exertion.
MSM is a natural analgesic.
Turmeric, rich in curcumin, offers natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support.
Devil’s Claw assists with discomfort—especially for horses with arthritic tendencies.
Read more here about ingredients that are common in joint supplements for horses that we don’t include and why.
Gut health is also important. Often older horses can have loose manures, which indicate their gut is not functioning optimally. Performance horses frequently have a history of ulcers, which means you will need to manage their gut health even beyond their competition career. This doesn't have to be expensive. Prebiotics and probiotics can help support the gut and make sure they are absorbing nutrients.
Supporting your retired champion isn’t just about comfort; it’s about continued purpose. While many horses enjoy retirement peace, some horses thrive on activity and adventure.
For example, we had a thoroughbred who had a successful racing career and then a successful dressage career who - well into his 20s would voluntarily jump logs in his paddock all by himself.
Rotate pastures to stimulate curiosity.
Some horses enjoy ‘toys’, for example, jolly balls. Slow feeders - either in a ball or a small-mesh net make hay feeding more interesting. There are also many treat feeders available on the market that can entertain.
Provide companionship — paddock mates can offer comfort and playfulness. Ex-performance horses can be great 'uncles' and 'aunts' keeping young horses in line.
Introduce light tasks: leading, grooming rituals, occasional groundwork to keep minds engaged. Many retired performance horses still enjoy trails well into their 20s.
Retired performance horses may also enjoy attending events as a companion to youngstock.
Hoof Care Matters
Maintain regular trims, even if they’re barefoot.
Watch for wear patterns that hint at asymmetry or discomfort. If you see unusual wear patterns that usually means there is some kind of imbalance above the hairline, which is very common for ex-performance horses. Like retired human athletes, there are often niggling pains from past injuries.
It's important that you address imbalances, because horses rely on symmetry to get adequate rest.
Support weakened soles with careful terrain management. Pebbles around the water trough and in gateways can help to passively condition hooves, and prevent slipping.
Dental Care
Older horses often have compromised dentition. Watch for “quidding” - this is where a horse will stuff grass in their cheek to prevent sharp teeth from rubbing against the inside of their mouth. Watch for a chomping action instead of grinding. They will still require dental checks as they age. Many older horses benefit from receiving their feeds in mashes to ensure their calorie requirements are met.
Dignity in Aging:
Respect the past while supporting the present—retirement isn’t the end, it’s a shift.
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