- Calories and Energy. 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.
- Water. 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.
- Forage. Good-quality forage should be the basis of the horse’s diet. ...
- Other Key Nutrients. Horses with PPID might be insulin-resistant, meaning their cells don’t respond normally to the hormone insulin; therefore, balance these horses’ diets carefully to limit starch and sugar ...
- Take-Home Message. Regardless of a horse’s life stage, tailor the diet to his activity level and health need. ...
What is the best feed for older horses?
- If the horse cannot eat hay (leaves wads of hay by feeder): Feed complete feed with highly digestible fiber. ...
- Assure high quality sources of protein, vitamins and minerals.
- If the horse cannot chew well, one can make a slurry of complete (and/or) extruded feed.
- Feed at least 3 times a day.
What is the best hay for an older horse?
types of hay for horses – Legume Hay
- Alfalfa. Alfalfa is the most common legume hay for horses. ...
- Clover. Clover hay can provide energy, protein and fiber, however, if clover molds, it can cause slobbers and bleeding in horses who eat the molded hay.
- Birdsfoot Trefoil. Birdsfoot trefoil is more resistant to negative soil conditions as well as moisture fluctuations. ...
Does your older horse need a `senior` feed'?
Signs that your senior horse may need a senior diet include: Quidding – dropping partially chewed hay out their mouth while eating. As the horse ages, nutrient absorption and utilization decrease due to breakdown of the digestive system with age.
What are the top rated horse feeds?
Top five best complete horse feeds:
- Manna Pro Senior Weight Accelerator. If you have a senior horse and are looking for the best feed for it, then Manna Pro is what you require.
- The Missing Link 5-Pound Equine Plus Formula with Joint Support for Horses. ...
- Start to Finish Cool Calories 100. ...
- Manna Pro Calf-Manna Supplement. ...
- Horse Guard Super Weight Gain Equine. ...
What can horses with poor teeth eat?
How much protein should a horse have?
Why is it so hard for horses to chew hay?
Why do older horses lose muscle?
What is the demographic of a horse?
Why should a senior horse be evaluated?
How to reverse muscle loss in horses?
See more
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What can I give my old horse to gain weight?
Ultium® Competition, Omolene® #200 and Omolene® #500 are also calorie-dense feeds that may be helpful to help an older horse gain weight when fed with appropriate good quality hay and/or pasture.
What to feed an old horse who can't eat hay?
Six Hay Alternatives for HorsesBagged chopped forage. It can replace all of your horse's hay, if necessary.Hay cubes. Chopped cubed hay (usually alfalfa or timothy or a combination) is another 100-percent replacement. ... Hay pellets. ... “Complete” feed. ... Beet pulp. ... Soybean hulls.
Are alfalfa cubes good for older horses?
Alfalfa cubes are an excellent source of nutrition for horses, and can be used for everything from putting weight on a skinny horse, to maintaining weight on a pregnant, nursing, or heavily worked horse, to ensuring an older horse receives the nutrition he needs.
Do retired horses need grain?
Unless your horse is a high performance athlete, grass and/or hay and an appropriate serving of a whole food supplement is plenty of nutrition for good health. The hardworking horse's diet should be less than 25% grain to prevent colic.
What to do if your horse can't chew hay?
If horses are unable to chew long-stem hay, they might be given moistened hay cubes as a source of forage. If an old horse is afflicted with renal or hepatic dysfunction, a diet with a lower protein concentration and higher carbohydrate concentration should be offered.
Can a 20 year old horse lose weight?
Though many old horses, those over 20 years old, are able to maintain their body condition and health on normal maintenance rations, weight loss is not uncommon in aged horses. Dental problems, parasitism, pituitary dysfunction, and chronic pain are a few problems that may hinder intake or digestion of feedstuffs. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider the diets of geriatric horses.
Why do horses eat hay?
Because the horse might have poor teeth, provide its meals as a soft mash for easier chewing as well as good quality chaff. Hay might be too hard to chew or the horse might choke on it, so the hay might need to be dampen to soften it, or chopped like chaff. It is good practice to dampen hay so it is not dusty.
What to do if your horse has arthritis?
In case of arthritis, apart from medication to make the horse more comfortable, many natural therapies may help as well. Acupuncture, homeopathy, shiatsu, acupressure, aromatherapy and clay therapy are some.
Why is my horse at risk for colic?
A horse infested with parasites is more at risk to have colics and difficulties in putting on weight. If the horse has received a consistent worming programme all its life, it is less likely to have colics and more likely to have a long and healthy life. Poor digestion.
How old can a horse live?
However, nowadays, horses can live happily until a very old age, some well after the age of 30. Hopefully this article will help you and your old mate find the right care. According to NRC and veterinary bodies, a horse is considered geriatric at the age of 20. In general, a horse is considered a senior horse from 15-16 years of age.
How old are horses when they are stabled?
The results identified that horses aged 10 years and over who are stabled and still get regular exercise are at higher risks than those pastured at all times. Among other factors are recent changes in diet, in type of hay, in weather conditions, in housing and worm infestation.
What are the risks of horses getting colic?
In summary, changes in diet (type of hay, grain or concentrate) as well as feeding more than 2.7kg of grains, feed ing round bales of hay, and decreased access to pasture contribute to high risk of colic. Worms. As seen above, worm infestation is a primary issue. This also applies to all horses, young and old.
What happens if a horse's droppings are too thick?
If the droppings become too lose like "cow pat", reduce the oil and/or the protein content. Too much protein can be seen in urine as it becomes thick, smelly and difficult to pass.
Why is fibre important for horses?
Fibre first. Regardless of age, fibre is the most important part of every horse’s diet and is vital for good digestive health. In the wild, horses would graze for up to 18 hours a day and it is our job as owners to replicate this near constant supply of fibre.
Why do horses need low protein?
For example: any horse with liver problems requires a low protein diet in order to reduce the strain placed on the already damaged organ. Similarly, horses and ponies prone to or at risk of laminitis, including Cushing’s sufferers should only be fed feeds that have very low starch and sugar levels of under 10% combined.
What causes a horse to be fizzy?
Feeds which contain cereals and molasses will be higher in starch and sugar, which can not only cause fizzy and excitable behaviour, but can also make the horse more susceptible to developing laminitis or colic.
Do veteran horses lose weight?
Feed according to condition. Weight loss is a common problem that affects horses as they age and for this reason most specific veteran feeds, are high in calories to help older horses gain weight and maintain good condition. However, not all veteran horse lose weight, many that have been good doers all of their lives will remain so in their later ...
Can horses chew hay?
Unfortunately as horse’s age their dental condition will naturally decline, often making it difficult for them to graze and chew hay efficiently. It is then necessary to provide alternative sources of fibre that can be easily chewed and digested by the veteran horse. Feed according to condition.
Why is it important to keep horses cool in summer?
Extremes of temperature are likely to affect appetite and therefore keeping horses/ ponies cool in summer months may be equally important (Cushingoid horses/ ponies may need clipping) Keep an eye on herd dynamics - older horses may be more susceptible to bullying resulting in reduced food/ water access. Tips for Feeding Hay Replacers.
When do horses become vets?
Traditionally horses became 'veterans' at fifteen although with good management and better veterinary care, horses and ponies are now living healthy and active lives well into twenties and even thirties. In fact, many competition horses do not reach the peak of their career until their late teens. Like people, horses age at different rates ...
What supplements are needed for cushings?
Cushingoid/ PPID horses and ponies need similar nutritional management to a laminitic. Higher levels of amino acids (to support muscle mass) and in theory, supplementary antioxidants such as vitamin E and selenium may be helpful. For more information see topic on Cushings's Syndrome. Osteoarthritis in the neck and forelimbs may lowering ...
What is the body condition score for horses?
Body condition score regularly, aiming to maintain a score of 5 out 9. Whilst body condition scoring does not assess muscle development/ topline, a loss of muscle mass in older horses can sometimes be mistaken for lack of fat mass.
Why is my horse reluctant to drink cold water?
Like people, older horses may suffer from sensitive teeth making them reluctant to drink very cold water.
Is high starch good for horses?
High starch diets are not suitable for horses/ ponies prone to/ suffering from laminitis, PPID, colic, tying up or gastric ulcers. The most suitable feed may not always say 'senior' on the bag - speak to a nutritionist for more advice.
Is fenugreek poisonous to horses?
In fact one study, fenugreek was ranked as the number the one flavour preferred by horses closely followed by banana and cherry (fresh cherries are poisonous to horses)! Older horses may find it harder to regulate their body temperature and in cold weather, may need more access to shelter and warmer rugs.
WHY SENIOR FEEDS FOR OLD HORSES ARE A GOOD CHOICE
There are an abundance of complete senior feeds on the market, as well as supplements to support age related issues. But as every horse is an individual, their needs as a senior vary. A senior horse that is still performing under saddle will have very different needs to a senior horse that is retired to pasture and expending less energy.
OLD, SENIOR HORSES AND NUTRIENT NEEDS
Just because he’s not working as hard, doesn’t mean your horse’s body gets a break from its job producing quality cells. Hooves and hair continue to grow, even if there’s not an arena to show them off in! Your senior horse still needs nutrients. The key here is that your horse now needs highly digestible nutrients.
FEEDING AN OLD HORSE FOR WEIGHT GAIN
It’s fairly common for an old horse to need more calories to maintain body condition. This is due to their decreased ability to digest and metabolize food. If weight gain is your primary goal, then look for a senior feed that promotes weight gain as a key benefit. Specifically, hone in on the Crude Fat %, Digestible Energy, and Protein figures.
HOW SENIOR TEETH GUIDE FEED CHOICE
The state of a senior horse’s teeth really comes down to a lifetime of individual habits. Typically, as the years go by a horse’s teeth wear down and reduce their ability to chew.
How much protein should I give my horse?
If he can chew and swallow without difficulty, an older horse will do best if he has light (10 to 12 percent protein, one Megacalorie per pound) hay available at all times, and this is what I would recommend for your horse. Water and salt complete the healthy diet.
Do older horses chew pellets?
ico_close. While it is true that older horses may chew and digest somewhat less efficiently, whole-ration pellets of modest nutrition (10-percent protein, one Megacalorie per pound) are the answer to that problem, not the 16-percent protein in alfalfa or fat added to already high-fat senior feeds.
Is oat hay good for horses?
Although it is getting harder to find, oat hay is the most practical answer for older horses' forage needs. If made in the early stages of grain formation, oat hay alone is an excellent total ration for maintaining older horses while avoiding the imbalances and excesses that can come with alfalfa.
What can I feed my horse?
You can feed up to about half the horse’s daily forage intake as beet pulp. Rice bran is a good source of fat, as well as starch. Fats are great calorie sources, because every gram of fat provides 2.25 times more calories than an equal weight of carbohydrate or protein.
What supplements can I give my horse for arthritis?
An anti-inflammatory product and/or a glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate supplement might benefit horses with arthritis. If you have questions about feeding your senior horse, work with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist to develop a program that will meet his nutrient needs. — The Horse Staff.
What happens if a horse has PPID?
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels rise in all horses this time of year, but horses with PPID can experience significant elevation that, if left un controlled, can cause weight and topline loss. Horses with uncontrolled PPID are at a greater risk of developing insulin dysfunction and laminitis, so this is something you’ll want your veterinarian to check out.
What to do if you feed less than the recommended amount of senior feed?
If you feed less than the recommended amount of senior feed, you will need to keep the ration balancer in the diet to ensure his vitamin and mineral needs are met . Try feeding several small meals throughout the day, rather than two large meals, especially when feeding wet feeds in summer.
How to tell if a horse is eating hay?
Weight loss is a sign that calorie intake is lower than calorie usage. If you believe your horse is eating the hay provided and the quality appears good (plenty of leaf and not too much stem), I’d see if you can increase his hay intake. My preference is to increase forage before increasing grain. If the hay appears to have been cut at a more mature stage, you might want to forego increasing hay intake and move to one of the following options:
What is senior feed?
Senior feeds are usually complete feeds, meaning they contain all the forage a horse needs and, therefore, are designed to be fed without hay. Which version you feed your horse depends on his specific needs and his ability to eat other forage sources.
Why do horses lose weight?
Pain is another possible cause of weight loss, especially in older horses with mild osteoarthritis. This can make getting around harder for a horse. They become less motivated to go to feeding areas to eat, and even pain-related stress itself can result in weight loss.
How much water should I give my horse?
If the horse does not drink well, feeding water-soaked feeds (1 to 2 gallons of water per feeding) will help increase fluid intake. Addition of 1 to 2 ounces of salt to the feed may also encourage increased water intake but should be done only if the horse has unlimited access to water. Inadequate Dentition/Tooth Loss.
How to help an arthritic horse?
Once up, the horse may stagger. Try to support it without putting yourself at risk if it collapses. Massaging the limbs and muscles to get the circulation going again may help. To make the arthritic horse more comfortable, consult your farrier and veterinarian regarding the optimal way to trim or shoe the horse.
What are some examples of arthritic problems in horses?
Ringbone and spavin are examples of arthritic problems commonly seen in older horses. However, a little stiffness that the aged horse will warm out of fairly quickly when exercised should not be a cause for alarm or retirement.
Why do horses lose weight?
The most common causes of weight loss in aged horses are failure to keep up with deworming schedules, debilitating diseases and/or poor dentition. If an older horse is failing to maintain adequate body weight, despite good deworming schedules, normal appetite and adequate rations, its teeth should be checked carefully, using a full mouth speculum. Merely pulling the tongue to one side to look at the back teeth is not a reliable method of detecting dental abnormalities. If the teeth are normal, the horse should be carefully checked for disease by having a veterinarian perform a thorough physical exam, including a blood sample to check for chronic infections and liver or kidney dysfunction.
Why is my horse's flexion so painful?
Arthritis. As with human athletes, years of stress, injuries and general wear and tear can result in painful and crippling arthritic changes in older horses. Arthritis is a combination of inflammation and degeneration of the tissues associated with a joint which make flexion and/or weight bearing painful.
What is the best hay for a 1000 lb horse?
A typical ration for a 1000 lb horse might consist of free access to top quality hay, preferably a straight grass or grass/alfalfa mix or pasture, plus 2 to 8 lbs of a feed designed for old horses, plus free choice water and salt. Avoid straight alfalfa. Its calcium content is high and may exacerbate failing kidney function.
What is the recommended calcium/phosphorus ratio for horses?
The calcium/phosphorus ratio, however, should be greater than 1:1.
What can horses with poor teeth eat?
Alternative forges like hay cubes and pellets can be fed to horses with poor teeth. Sugar beet pulp and soybean hulls can also be fed to increase fiber intake. Grains, if fed, should be well processed (extruded, pelleted, micronized or steam flaked). The hindgut loses some of its ability to ferment fiber.
How much protein should a horse have?
The total diet, hay and grain combined (dry matter basis), should contain 12-14% high quality protein, 03. – 0.4% phosphorous, 0.6 – 0.8% calcium and added Vitamin C. Aged horses that are healthy with a BCS of 5 to 7 require 1.5-2.0% of their BW DM/day of good quality grass or legume mix hay.
Why is it so hard for horses to chew hay?
Dental disease and/ or loss of teeth can cause chewing to become difficult and even ineffective. Worn incisors will make it difficult for horses to graze. Worn or damaged molars cause difficulty grinding feed. Worn molars cannot chew hay and the horses have a difficult time swallowing and digesting the hay.
Why do older horses lose muscle?
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. Commercial senior feeds has improved the amino acid balance to help reverse such changes. Older horses are prone to Cushing’s Syndrome.
What is the demographic of a horse?
Demographic – reflects an age-group population within the whole horse population. The best way to define this population of horses may be a combination of chronological age and physiological signs of aging. As horses age they go through several changes that affect how and what you should feed them.
Why should a senior horse be evaluated?
If the senior horse is maintained in a herd, they should be evaluated on a continuous basis because most will fall down the pecking order and are more easily bossed around. This results in the aged horse eating less feed. Loss of body score (body condition or body fat) is related to all of the above issues.
How to reverse muscle loss in horses?
Again, improving the amino acid balance (not just feeding MORE protein) can help reverse the loss of or maintain muscle mass. One of the most obvious changes in an older horse is loss of mobility.
