Chopped Hay for Senior Horses: Other Alternatives
- Hay Cubes. A popular forage alternative is hay cubes. ...
- Hay Pellets. Hay Pellets are very similar to hay cubes. ...
- Beet Pulp. The Practical Horseman describes Beet Pulp with the following words: “A great source of highly digestible fiber, it provides about 9 percent protein, similar to some grass hays.
- Soybean Hulls. ...
- Chopped Hay. ...
What do you feed an older horse?
Therefore, the key to feeding older horses is to use high quality protein from sources like alfalfa, soybean meal and canola meal without oversupplying their requirements. Aged horses lose body condition and muscle along the topline due to less efficient processing of certain nutrients in the older horse, most notably protein.
What is the best senior balancer feed for horses?
Buckeye Nutrition Senior Balancer Senior Horse Feed – Premium Choice The Senior Balancer Horse Feed from Buckeye Nutrition is quite a bit pricier than alternatives, but it also offers loads of nutrition for any aging horse.
What should I Feed my senior horse with Cushing’s disease?
What should I feed my senior horse with Cushing’s? Feeds low in soluble carbohydrates (sugar and starch or NSC) are recommended. Feeding recommendations are to provide a total diet with less than 20% NSC for most horses with Cushing’s disease. Some horses and ponies may need a dietary NSC level of less than 10% to avoid excessive complications.
Is your horse nutritionally senior?
A horse is considered nutritionally senior when they can no longer maintain good body condition on a normal hay and grain diet. Decaying digestive system issues such as scar tissue in the small intestine due to parasites, worn teeth and missing teeth can cause this decrease in body condition. Your horse is nutritionally a senior horse, now what?
How much grain should a senior horse get?
Because most senior feeds on the market today can be fed as a sole ration (ie 16-18 lbs. per day to a 1,200 lb. horse in light work) they have to be formulated in such a way that a horse eating this much of the feed won't be overdoing the concentration of vitamins/minerals, etc.
At what age should a horse be fed senior feed?
15As a general rule, senior feeds usually become appropriate for horses when they reach the age of 15. That said, however, it's possible that a much younger horse with digestive and nutritional challenges will benefit from senior feed.
Is alfalfa good for senior horses?
Therefore, the key to feeding older horses is to use high quality protein from sources like alfalfa, soybean meal and canola meal without oversupplying their requirements.
Are alfalfa pellets good for senior horses?
Energy dense forage sources such as Alfalfa pellets, cubes of chopped forage are ideal to increase the calorie content of the diet. Protein requirements: Older horses in good body condition have protein requirements that are similar to those of horses at maintenance.
Can a horse founder on senior feed?
Horses can founder even though they are on a senior feed diet. A simple grass hay diet is recommended for horses at risk of foundering. Senior feeds are made with ingredients that are typically high quality and easy to eat; however, horses susceptible to founder may continue to have problems.
What should I feed my 18 year old horse?
A combination of Alfa-Beet, Grass Pellets and a High Fibre Cube/Mash can be the best senior horse feed options for for those who can't even manage to chew short chop fibres any more.
What is the best diet for a senior horse?
Generally speaking, healthy senior horses might require higher levels of protein, phosphorus, and restricted (but not below normal) calcium and crude fiber than younger, mature horses, Ralston said. If you’re unsure whether your horse’s current diet meets his needs, consult an equine nutritionist or your veterinarian for help;
What to feed a horse without a legume?
Feed grass hays without significant legume (alfalfa or clover) content and concentrates containing corn, oats, barley, and/or molasses (contrary to what is recommended for a healthy older horse, she noted), and add oil to the diet if horse needs more weight. Also avoid beet pulp and bran, she said.
What is the best diet for a horse with liver failure?
Hepatic dysfunction —Horses with liver failure require a diet higher in soluble carbohydrates (i.e., grain-based concentrates; again, she noted, this is contrary to what’s recommended for healthy older horses) and the vitamins niacin and vitamin C (which are synthesized in the liver). In addition, the ration should be lower in protein (8-10% of the diet) and fat (less than 5%) than the average older horse, Ralston said.
Why do horses separate at feeding time?
Simply separating horses at feeding time could help ensure they’re each consuming their allotted rations (and no one else’s).
What is the best supplement for horses with arthritis?
An anti-inflammatory product and/or glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate supplement might benefit horses with arthritis issues. Discuss these with your veterinarian.
Can a horse's dentition be affected?
Ralston specified that your veterinarian should perform a full mouth exam with a speculum to ensure potential issues, such as hooks on the back molars and missing molars, aren’t overlooked. Poor dentition can reduce horses’ chewing ability, which can lead to an increased choke risk or reduced nutrient intake.
Do senior horses benefit from supplements?
Some senior horses might benefit from these supplements, said Ralston:
What is senior horse feed?
Marty Adams, "A senior horse feed should be highly palatable, dust-free, easy to chew and digest, based on digestible fiber instead of grain, low in sugar and starch content, 14% crude protein, and contain added B vitamins, vitamin C and additional fat."
Why do horses need senior feed?
Generally senior feeds are complete feeds to allow the horse to get all of their dietary fiber via feed rather than through grazing or hay . As horses age, poor dentition can make it difficult for them to consume long-stemmed hay.
How to reduce choke in hay?
Wet or soak chopped hay or cubes. Not only can water decrease choke, but it can also reduce sugar and potassium content in hay if you soak for 60 minutes and drain the water prior to feeding.
How to tell if a horse is a senior?
A horse is considered nutritionally senior when they can no longer maintain good body condition on a normal hay and grain diet. Decaying digestive system issues such as scar tissue in the small intestine due to parasites, worn teeth and missing teeth can cause this decrease in body condition.
Is a horse considered a senior?
Defining what makes a horse senior is a little more complicated. There is no standard definition for classifying whether or not a horse is a senior. A horse in his late teens may still be at the top of his athletic game, whereas a younger horse may be ready to go out to pasture and retire.
What to feed a senior horse?
Regardless of a horse’s life stage, tailor the diet to his activity level and health need. Remember to offer the basics, such as clean water and good-quality forage, and recruit a qualified equine nutritionist to help guide you when planning the rest of your senior’s diet.
What to feed a horse for energy?
Good-quality forage should be the basis of the horse’s diet. If forage alone does not meet a senior’s energy requirements, consider feeding beet pulp, a commercial senior feed, or a fat supplement to increase calorie intake.
What percentage of horses are over 20?
Twenty percent of the U.S. horse population is now over the age of 20. And with age comes increasing risk for several conditions, including colic, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, aka equine Cushing’s disease), dental disease, and weight loss/gain. Fortunately, nutrition can aid in managing these issues. After all, “age is a number, not a disease,” said Megan Shepherd, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVN.
What to do if a horse chews hay?
If a horse quids, or drops chewed wads of hay, then you might replace long-stem or pasture forage with soaked pelleted or cubed forage. Quidding is tied to dental problems, so don’t forget the importance of caring for your senior’s teeth, Shepherd added.
What is the best BCS score for a horse?
While it’s good practice to assess and address body condition score (BCS) at all life stages, weight management is particularly important for senior horses. Shepherd said a score of 5 out of 9 is ideal for seniors. A horse with no metabolic issues can have a BCS of 6 to account for future weight loss due to illness, she added. An arthritic animal might fare better with a little less weight stressing those joints, in which case a BCS of 4 is acceptable.
What is the most important thing to feed a horse?
Water is the most important component of any horse’s diet. Ensuring a senior horse has free access to fresh water can reduce his colic risk. Water requirements increase with forage intake, especially in winter. Consider water temperature and source. In winter, said Shepherd, make sure water is free of ice, and warm it periodically, if possible. Horses with PPID tend to drink and urinate more and, so, have increased water requirements.
What fatty acids are good for horses?
For horses with joint disease, omega-3 fatty acids, particularly marine-based eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (you might know these better as EPA and DHA), might help reduce joint inflammation.
What to feed a senior horse?
For this reason, we think it’s vital to offer your senior horse a feed that includes specific joint support, including vitamins and minerals, as well as supplements like MSM.
How much protein is in a senior horse?
But as your horse ages, its protein needs continue to increase, which is why some of the best senior blends contain as much as 32% protein.
How do horses meet their nutritional needs?
Most of a horse’s nutritional needs are met through foraging for hay and grass. The remainder is usually taken care of by feeding the horse grain. But as horses age, their nutritional requirements change. More supplementation is necessary than when the horse was young to help them remain in peak health. Joint support becomes important and it can become difficult for horses to consume enough with teeth that are often worn down or damaged and digestive systems that are slowing down.
What to do if your horse can't forage?
But if your horse can’t forage anymore or isn’t getting enough nutrition from its foraging, then opt for a total feed solution instead.
What is the best fiber for horses?
Fiber is essential for maintaining proper digestive health; especially as your horse gets up in years. The best blends contain a minimum of 20% crude fiber, though they also often contain other types of fiber, such as neutral detergent fiber, which is considered a structural carbohydrate.
What does the ingredient list mean for horse feed?
First, the length of the list is significant. Shorter ingredients lists mean there weren’t all sorts of extra things stuffed in, while long ingredients lists generally contain some questionable inclusions. By questionable, we mean ingredients that you might not have even heard of before! We always prefer blends with short ingredient lists filled with ingredients we know. Simple is generally best.
What is the best supplement for horses?
Omega 3 and 6 are essential fatty acids that your horse needs to consume. These fatty acids help reduce inflammation, aid in muscle contraction, and also keep your horse’s coat looking shiny and healthy.
