How age works
Horse age is counted in in-game days, which the official FAQ also calls in-game rounds. It is not real-world years, and it is not the number of days since you bought the horse.
The full-release breeding reference gives these milestones:
| Stage | Timing |
|---|---|
| Pregnancy | 8 in-game days |
| Foal to yearling | 4 days after birth |
| Adult | Age 12 |
A purchased yearling keeps its displayed age. Buying an age-six yearling does not reset it to zero.
Pregnancy and work
The mare can work normally for the first half of pregnancy. Riding is unavailable during the second half. Lunging remains possible, but it gives no strength or endurance gains during that period.
From covering to adulthood is roughly 20 days: eight pregnant, four as a foal, then about eight more as a yearling before the age-12 adult milestone. A nursing mare can be bred again, but watch her condition and the available space.
Retirement and removal
Horses eventually retire. A retired horse is effectively out of the game: it cannot be visited or brought back into work. Neglect is a separate outcome, and animal welfare can confiscate a horse that is not being cared for.
The exact retirement age is not established. Do not invent a fixed number of useful years or promise a horse a specific remaining career.
Planning around age
- Check the horse’s age before buying it.
- Reserve space for foals and yearlings before breeding.
- Separate the save-day counter, the horse’s age and the time you have owned it.
- Train toward a realistic goal rather than assuming an unlimited career.
The full game has no overall 25-day campaign limit, so a long breeding programme is possible. Individual horses still age, and that is the clock that matters for each animal.