Gentle, proactive support for your ageing horse

Older horses deserve thoughtful, kind and well-planned care as their needs change with age. At Avon Ridge Equine Veterinary Services, we place a strong focus on supporting horses in their senior years — helping you stay ahead of age-related health issues, maintain comfort, and protect quality of life for as long as possible.

This service is ideal for horses aged 15 and over, or any horse showing signs of ageing such as stiffness, weight changes, behavioural shifts or metabolic risk.

What Senior Horse Care may include

• Comprehensive health, mobility and quality-of-life assessments
  Monitoring comfort, weight, appetite, movement, vision and day-to-day function — with an emphasis on long-term wellbeing.

• Metabolic and endocrine screening where appropriate
  Including assessment for PPID and insulin dysregulation, with clear guidance on when testing is beneficial and more importantly when it’s not!

• Practical, individualised advice on nutrition and management
  Real-world guidance to help maintain condition, support comfort and prevent laminitis — tailored to your horse and environment.

• Pain-management support and monitoring
  Ensuring even subtle discomfort is recognised and addressed early.

• Regular reassessment
  So care evolves as your horse’s needs change — not just once a year.

A calm, compassionate approach

Ageing horses are often stoic — meaning problems can quietly develop over time. By taking a proactive and welfare-focused approach, we help you avoid crisis-based decision-making and ensure your older horse remains as happy and comfortable as possible.