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Feeding the Senior Horse
Tuesday, October 06, 2009by Beth Stelzleni
Horses today are living much longer than they did in previous years - in fact it is not unusual to have a horse live into his thirties. As our equine partners live longer lives, it is our responsibility to support them nutritionally in their later years.
One question people often have is how to determine if a horse is "old." At what point does a horse move from being "mature" to being a "senior"? The answer to this question really depends on the individual horse. While most people consider 20 to be the start of old age in horses, there is no real age when a horse can automatically be considered chronologically old. The most effective way of establishing old age in horses is to watch for certain physical signs. Chronically low body condition, loss of muscle over the topline leading to a sway-backed appearance, graying of the coat, and hollowing out of the grooves above the eyes are all symptoms of old age.
There are four primary characteristics of senior horses that can affect their overall nutritional outlook. The first is deteriorating dental health. This is very common in the senior horse and effects their consumption of hay - the most important part of any horse's diet. Senior horses with bad teeth will simply not be able to chew and process long-stem forage; so alternative fiber sources must be provided in their diets. The second characteristic of senior horses is decreased digestive efficiency. Older horses have nutritional requirements similar to those of a long yearling because they simply cannot metabolize nutrients as easily as they did when they were younger. The third characteristic is a changing metabolism. This means that some older horses may develop problems in maintaining weight and become "easy keepers", while some may develop problems in holding their weight and become "hard keepers." The final characteristic we see in older horses today is arthritis. Arthritis actually has a huge impact on nutrition, as it causes both pain and stress, which can cause an older horse to begin losing weight or go off of feed completely. Also, in group-feeding situations, older, arthritic horses may not be able to fend off other horses to eat their feed.
When feeding senior horses, it is a good idea to use a commercial grain mix specially formulated for these older horses. These types of grain mixes are designed specifically for the needs of senior horses, so the protein, and vitamins and minerals in the mix are adequate for a senior horse's higher needs, and are correctly balanced to fit his nutrient requirements. When shopping for a senior feed, look for a high amount of fiber in the grain to compensate for any loss in ability to process hay. Some senior feeds can even be fed as complete feeds - replacing hay altogether. Also, be sure to look for form in your senior feed. Pelleted feeds are best for those senior horses that have poor teeth, as pellets are easy to process and digest. And finally, be sure to look for a low starch and sugar level. Senior horses can become susceptible to many metabolic disorders due to high starch and sugar levels, including Cushing's disease and insulin resistance. By choosing a senior feed that is low in starch and sugar, you can reduce the risk that your senior horse will develop one of these diseases.
18 comment(s) for “Feeding the Senior Horse”
The pellets do not need to be moistened, although it is owner/horse preference. If your horse's teeth are very poor, moistening the pellets will make it easier for them to consume.
Miss Kim,
It sounds like your mare's teeth should get evaluated. She may just need the float this year to create a more even chewing surface. I might suggest feeding a senior feed along with the Gro N Win to increase fiber and calories in her diet. The Gro N Win will still provide essential amino acids that will help her regain topline and muscle growth and works well in conjunction with the Senior feeds.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 1-800-898-WINS.
Shari
I also have a Percheron mare that needs to lose 200-300lbs and get to work. She is now exercising and I have been giving her 2lbs per day Safe & Easy with Hay. What would help her get nutrition and no sugars until I get the weight off her? I do have some Gro^Win on hand.
Thank you!
Sorry to hear about the Black Walnut problem. I am not sure about the sweating, please send me an email at technicalsupport@buckeyenutrition.com and we can talk about that some more. As for the Safe N Easy, that should be enough if fed at the recommended level that you shouldn't need any additional top-dress.
Thanks!
Shari
I would look at the EQ8 Gut Health product. It is fairly low in starch and sugar, high fat, and high fiber. It has live probiotics and prebiotics to help with digestive help and is also very palatable. If he has good quality grass hay, a product like this can safely add pounds and help the digestive tract as well. Let us know if you find anything else out in the meantime!
Shari
Maybe try the Gro N Win for both of them. Gro N Win is low in calories and NSC but very high in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. For the gelding, I would top-dress Ultimate Finish as necessary. The Percheron mare that needs to lose weight needs the Gro N Win because even with the low inclusion rate, she will still be meeting her daily requirements. Right now at 2 lbs per day of Safe N Easy, she is not getting enough vitamins and minerals. I think you could easily feed both horses with 1-2 products.
Shari
Thanks for your help,
Peggyann Hamilton
For a 1000 lb mare in maintenance or low work, you would feed about 1.0-1.5 lbs per day. Please see the new www.gro-n-win.com website for more information on feeding Gro N Win!
It sounds like Safe N Easy would be a good option for your mare. It is low in starch and sugar and low calorie, yet will provide enough energy for a horse that still has a job to do. It comes in both pelleted and textured forms too!
If you feed the recommended amount of Senior, you do not need to add Gro N Win. There will already be enough vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in the Senior, since it is fortified with Gro N Win. To add more weight, you can still top dress the Ultimate Finish for additional calories. You could also look at increasing the amount (or quality) of the forage you are feeding to add calories to her diet as well.