How to Feed Senior Horses
- 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. ...
- Forage. Good-quality forage should be the basis of the horse’s diet. ...
- Other Key Nutrients. ...
- Take-Home Message. ...
Does your older horse need a `senior` feed'?
While some senior formulas are designed to be high fat, high energy formulas, some aren’t. For this reason, an older horse who can eat long stem forage well yet is becoming a hard keeper, may not necessarily need senior feed. This horse may have increasing nutritional demands to maintain his fitness/body condition as he ages.
What is the best senior feed for horses?
Top 4 Senior Horse Feeds to Try
- Triple Crown Senior. This senior feed is a complete feed that is perfect for older horses with dietary issues. ...
- Purina Mills Equine Senior Horse Feed. ...
- Manna Pro Senior Equine Supplement. ...
- Farnam Senior Health and Wellness Supplement. ...
What is the best hay to feed a horse?
There are Only 3 Types of Horse Hay
- Timothy
- Orchard
- Brome
- Blue grass
Should I Feed my horse before I Ride?
But research now suggests that it is better to feed a horse before riding them. We now think that feeding your horse before riding can help prevent them developing ulcers. This is because the horses stomach has two halves. The bottom half is where the stomach acid sits and is resistant to the stomach acid.
How do you keep an old horse healthy?
Make sure your saddle fits properly as your senior horse's topline changes. Feed your horse a high quality diet that meets all their nutrient needs. Watch for early signs of cancer or Cushing's syndrome for best treatment outcomes. Keep senior horses up-to-date on vaccines and deworming to prevent infection.
What can I feed my old horse to gain weight?
Soybean oil or canola oil are preferable to corn oil. You can safely feed up to two cups per day to provide additional fat and calories; but make changes slowly. Start with ¼ cup per day and gradually increase.
What to feed an older horse that is losing weight?
Chopped hay should be premium quality, with alfalfa or a mixture of high-quality grass hay and alfalfa probably the best choices. If chopped hay is fed, a vitamin-mineral supplement should be offered. These supplements often come in the form of a pellet and can be moistened to increase palatability.
What should I feed my 16 year old horse?
Hay and pasture are the most often used, but beet pulp or soybean hulls are excellent sources of highly digestible energy. There are multiple feeds on the market that are designed for the older athlete. When fed at the recommended intake, they will supply many of the nutrients needed by the horse.
How do I fatten up my skinny horse?
One of the simplest and cheapest ways to add fat to your horse's diet is vegetable oil from the grocery store, which can be poured over his regular concentrate ration. Corn oil is palatable to most horses, but you can also use canola, peanut or any other vegetable oil your horse likes.
Are Oats good for senior horses?
Yes – if your horse needs them! Of all the cereal grains (e.g. corn, barley, wheat, etc.) oats have the most appropriate nutritional profile for horses. They are an excellent source of calories, and have a better protein and amino acid profile than many other grains.
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.
Is it normal for an old horse to be skinny?
Senior Horses Don't Have to Be Skinny While it's true that there are a lot of too-thin senior horses out there, just because your horse is getting up there in years doesn't mean he has to look painfully thin or have a rough coat. So it's a myth that senior horses are skinny — so long as you take good care of them.
How much grain should a senior horse eat per day?
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.
Do older horses need more protein?
Senior horses frequently struggle with a loss of muscle mass or poor topline. Horses with health issues that impact digestion often require additional protein sources to maintain optimal muscling and overall health.
How much hay should I feed my senior horse?
For older horses with dental problems who can only eat a limited amount of hay, use these guidelines: provide 0.5% of the older horse's body weight daily in chopped forage or hay cubes or pellets (five pounds daily for a 1,000-lb horse) and provide up to 1% of the older horse's body weight in senior feed (ten pounds ...
How can I put weight on my old horse with no teeth?
Chopped hay, soaked hay cubes or pellets, and soaked beet pulp are all excellent options. In addition, a complete feed – such as SAFE 'N EASY Complete, which comes in pellet form – is designed to provide all of the fiber and nutrients a horse needs as their sole diet.
How can I make my horse gain weight fast?
What is the fastest way to put weight on a horse? High fat, high protein grain combined with a rich alfalfa hay can quickly put weight on a horse, if there is not an underlying medical condition.
How do you put weight on an old thoroughbred horse?
13 Ways to Put Weight on a ThoroughbredGet Your Horse's Teeth Checked. ... Have a Vet Check Your Horse for Worms. ... Make Sure You Are Feeding the Recommended Amounts. ... Adjust Your Feeding Regimen Based on Activity Level. ... Feed Your Horse Extra Forage. ... Add Grain to Your Horse's Diet. ... Add High Calorie Supplements to Your Horse's Diet.More items...
Will alfalfa pellets put weight on a horse?
Horses in a challenging work program often need a higher protein diet to replace lost calories, and alfalfa cubes or pellets are an excellent way to add this element into their diets. The horse needs to gain weight. It can be very difficult to get underweight horses to put on weight.
What to feed an older horse?
Hay cubes and hay pellets are another choice of forage that you can feed to your older horse. Hay cubes are made by pressing hay into small squares, whereas hay pellets are made by compacting and pressing the forage through a preset form, and then cutting the produced pellet into the desired length. Both hay cubes and pellets are good choices, since they are easy to store, are typically less dusty than baled hay, and usually produce less waste. Hay cubes and pellets, however, are typically more expensive than baled hay and some horses will eat them at a quicker rate which could potentially cause digestive problems. If this is the case with your horse, you should feed him several smaller meals during the day, or place the feed in different locations throughout his pen so he will be less likely to eat it all at once.
How to help a horse get older?
As your horse gets older and you start noticing changes in his body condition and attitude, you’ll probably need to alter his diet, adjust his feeding schedule and feed smaller meals at more regular intervals. You may also need to move him away from younger or aggressive horses so that he won’t have to compete for food.
Why do you have to move a senior horse away from a younger horse?
You may also need to move him away from younger or aggressive horses so that he won’t have to compete for food. Ideally, all senior horses should have a yearly veterinarian exam to check for health or dental issues and to also monitor his body weight and body condition score.
What should a horse's diet be?
His overall diet should be based on digestible fiber, with a protein level around 12% to 14% and depending on the condition of your horse, his feed may need to be low in sugar and starch especially if he has Equine Metabolic Syndrome or Cushing’s disease.
What color should hay be?
You’ll want to feed hay that is leafy with very few stems, is light to medium green in color, and smells fresh and slightly sweet. The hay should be soft and pliable to the touch, and should be free of weeds or other types of foreign material.
What is senior feed?
Senior feeds typically are highly palatable, are easy to digest, and are fortified with vitamins and minerals to meet the specific needs of an older horse. Senior feeds are also soft and easy to chew and digest, and can be mixed with water to make a mash for horses who have difficulty chewing and swallowing their feed.
What happens when a horse starts aging?
Or as your horse starts aging, you might notice that he is developing a sway back or that he is starting to have dental problems. Along with physical changes, your horse’s nutritional needs will also start to change ...
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
What to feed a horse as it gets older?
As your horse gets older their heart, lungs, liver, digestive system and kidneys may begin to need extra support. Providing a low calcium feed such as Sixteen Plus avoids placing additional stress on the kidneys. Providing extra antioxidants can help support the heart and nervous system.
How to keep a horse moving?
Light, regular exercise is beneficial for your horse. Feeding supplements to encourage joint health can help to keep your horse moving.
Why is my horse not chewing his feed?
Problems such as missing teeth, abnormal wear on the teeth or jaw arthritis can mean that your horse could struggle to chew their feed. Forage that is not chewed properly can lead to choke, and will not be digested properly in the small intestine, which could lead to impaction colic.
Why do horses struggle to maintain muscle mass?
Maintaining Muscle Mass: Older horses may struggle to maintain muscle mass due to: - A reduction in workload. - Poor absorption of protein from the small intestine . - Reduced ability to build new muscle. Feeding high-quality protein is essential. Sixteen Plus Mix and Cubes and KwikBeet contain high levels of digestible protein to help maintain your ...
Why do horses lose weight?
Some horses may begin to lose weight due to dental problems or reduced ability to absorb nutrients from the intestine. Some horses may gain weight due to reductions in workload.
Can horses eat wet?
Highly palatable and can be fed wet for horses that are struggling to chew. Joint Support - If your horse is struggling with mobility. A nutritional supplement designed to support and maintain your horse’s musculoskeletal system. Contains high levels of glucosamine and MSM to support your horse’s mobility and quality of life.
What is Ranvet horse?
Every product in the Ranvet range has been developed to meet a horse’s most specific need at any given time, be it in a training environment or on a breeding farm. Having pioneered the formulation of specific medications and dietary supplements for horses, the company is now recognised as a leader in the areas of equine health and nutrition.
Do older horses need deworming?
Having a regular deworm ing program is vital for older horses. We recommend having faecal egg counts done with your veterinarian to make sure you are using the most appropriate treatments.
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 ...
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.
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.
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 ...
Do senior horses lose weight?
Not all senior horses are prone to losing weight. In fact, reduced activity may, particularly if coupled with increased access to pasture may result in weight gain. Avoid high starch/ cereal based feeds for ponies, natives and those prone to excitability.
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.
How do horses teeth wear down?
Equine teeth continuously erupt throughout horses’ lives, but are worn down through the grinding action of chewing. Older horses may not have much tooth or enamel left, or teeth may fall out, and they become at risk for dental problems such as gum disease and cheek abscesses. If the molars and premolars are offset by abnormal wear or tooth loss, the grinding surface is uneven, affecting the horse’s ability to chew properly. Therefore, even if a perfectly balanced diet is offered, an older horse may not be able to chew and digest it efficiently.
Can an older horse change his teeth?
While there are some inherent changes to an older horse’s nutrient needs, further complicating the situation are changes to the horse’s teeth and behaviour that may affect their eating ability and feed intake.
Can older horses digest nutrient?
In terms of changes to nutrient requirements, there have been a few studies that have identified some differences in nutrient digestion in older horses. If a horse cannot digest a nutrient or feed type as well, increased amounts of that nutrient, or different sources, may be offered to increase digestibility.
