Chopping the hay or offering hay cubes are excellent options for older horses, and the cubes may be soaked to be more suitable for their older teeth. Other good-quality fibre sources include beet pulp and rice bran, and these should be fed soaked. Most commercial feeds for older horses can also be soaked.
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 diet for a veteran horse?
Consequently, it is essential that all veterinary issues are taken into account to ensure that the diet is suitable for the horse as a whole and not just in relation to his age. A good veteran feed will be one that is high in fibre and low in starch and sugar as this is more natural for the horse.
What is the best forage replacer for my horse?
If your horse struggles to eat hay and you have limited access to pasture then feeding a forage replacer made from soaked KwikBeet, Classic Fibre Nuts and Alfalfa is an excellent way to meet your horse's fibre requirements.
Is it OK to feed a 20 year old horse?
“Many senior horses (more than 20 years old) are healthy, happy animals that do not need any special nutrition or care,” she said. If a healthy older horse is thriving on the ration he’s been consuming for years, there might be no need to change it solely because he’s reached a certain age.
What is the best feed for senior horses?
Good quality grass hay and corn or a complete pelleted ration for mature (not aged) horses are the feeds of choice. Avoid legumes (alfalfa and clover), wheat bran and beet pulp due to high calcium (legumes, beet pulp) or phosphorus (wheat bran) content.
What do you feed a geriatric horse?
Choose a feed low in starch and sugar 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.
How much grain should I feed my senior horse?
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.
What do older horses eat in the winter?
Feeding as much hay as a horse will consume without waste is the best way to help keep him warm. Most horses will consume 2% of their body weight in hay a day. For a 1000 lb horse that is 20 lbs of hay.
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.
What should I feed my 16 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.
Is beet pulp good for senior horses?
In summary, beet pulp is a good dietary supplement for "hard keepers", as a forage or fiber replacement for poor quality hay, and for older horses with problems chewing or digesting hay. The digestible energy content of beet pulp is greater than hay and less than grain.
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.
Are oats good for older horses?
Oats are a good ingredient in horse feeds, but nutrient levels are variable, and oats are lacking in many important nutrients needed to sustain peak performance. When you cut a formulated feed with oats, you lose so much....Oats for horses by the numbers.NutrientFat, %Omolene® #500 feed8.0Oats-42%50:50 Blend-21%8 more columns
Do horses need grain in winter?
In general, feeding an additional one-quarter pound of grain per 100 pounds of body weight daily to non-working horses can provide adequate calories during cold, windy and wet weather.
Is alfalfa good for horses in winter?
Alfalfa is beneficial for most horses because when combined with grass hay, it boosts the overall protein quality. This helps protect immune function and keep body proteins such as muscles, hair, skin, and hooves, in good condition.
Do horses need salt blocks in winter?
According to horse nutritionist Dr. Juliet Getty, regardless of the weather, horses require a daily supply of salt. During cold weather, salt helps promote enough water consumption to prevent dehydration. In warm seasons, salt replaces what is lost from perspiration.
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.
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 age is considered a senior horse?
Horses are typically considered “senior” after 20 years of age.
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.
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 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.
Do older horses need shelter?
Also, older horses tend to be less tolerant of temperature extremes, so ensure they have adequate shelter, she said. Shelter from wind and snow in winter (run-in sheds, wind blocks) and high heat (shade!) in the summer will help, she added.
Can horses with kidney problems eat soybean meal?
So, for example, if the horse with kidney dysfunction turns his nose up at grass hay in favor of alfalfa, or the one with liver problems will only eat one feed that happens to contain soybean meal, it’s better to let them eat what they will rather than drop weight because they’re not a fan of the perfect ration.
Do you have to change your old horse's rations?
Your old horse’s rations might not need to change just because he’s got a few more gray hairs around his eyes. Still, owners should consider some key points when feeding their seniors.
Can horses have low vitamin C?
Horses with thyroid or pituitary dysfunction could have reduced glucose tolerance and/or low vitamin C levels and, as such, could require a different ration; Ensure the horse is on a regular deworming schedule. Ralston said her research in the 1980s and ‘90s suggested that chronic gastrointestinal ...
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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
Is senior feed NSC?
Some brands of senior feed have low-enough NSC levels, even though the manufacturers might not market the feed as being low-NSC. This information is unlikely to be on feed tags and requires a visit to the company’s website or, potentially, a phone call to confirm.
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.
