This seems to be the case with a ghost foal named Glint Singleton 2.0. Horses can die of old age, but fire and meteors could also possibly kill them. If you haven't experienced this yet, then your equestrian duo have not made an error while jumping through the inferno hoop! Thanks Ginger Blue and Marie for passing this information along. This happens independent of the lucky trait. I have had multiple reports of Sims being saved from death by their horses. But another option for taking care of your horse is to simply keep it at the stables adjoining the Equestrian Center - this will pretty much be mandatory for apartment dwellers. Some players will want to care for their horses right on their Sims' home lot. Horses can also unlock additional traits if left to their own freewill. They're key in unlocking additional traits sought by the Sim. There are also numerous Friendly/Affection socials available to build relationships with the horses. Click on that to clean its hooves and brush them every day. When your Sim clicks on a horse you'll see a Care button. The stable already has hay in it for eating. The other needs are pretty self explanatory - have a trough of water and a salt lick near the horse's stable. That does not necessarily mean you always have to ride them, but you need to be on your toes and monitor their needs and give them some self direction to gallop on their own. Horses do need a lot of exercise, that's for sure. Most of a horse's 6 needs are the same as a Sims' needs (Hunger, Bladder, Energy, and Social), but instead of Hygiene and Fun, horses have Exercise and Thirst. The other options to getting a horse are 1) using a phone, computer or newspaper and adopting one for free, 2) befriending a wild horse (you had better be patient for this option), or 3) simply going to the Equestrian Center and buying one. There's no shortage of customization options available in Create-a-Pet. The game also will throw a little extra money at you for each horse you create since you'll need to buy supplies for its care. The advantage here is you get to choose some traits that will make things a little easier and more efficient for you, like Agile (for the jumping skill), Fast (for the racing skill) and Genius (for learning skills a little quicker). If you're starting a new game, then obviously the easiest way to obtain a horse is creating one at the same time you're creating your Sim(s).
In this overview guide, I'll lead you through the basics of horsecare, learning the riding skill, and finally, I'll touch on the new career as well as the competitions. Dogs and cats (and the other minor animals) are a big addition too, but the whole new horseman career, the new riding skill, and all of the competitions you can enter at the Equestrian Center really puts horses in their own category. Of the entire scope of new content in Sims 3 Pets, horse related gameplay is unquestionably the deepest and most varied. The Sims 3 Pets: Horses Guide Basic Horsecare, the Riding Skill, a New Career and More! by Tom "Metro" Schlueter The Sims 3 Pets Guide