How to Feed a Senior Horse for Optimum Health and Weight

Many of us as horse owners wish that our horses could last forever. With proper feeding, dental care, and health care, we may not be able to keep them alive forever, but we can surely keep them healthier, sounder and at a fantastic weight for much longer. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated equine nutritionists and scientists, specialty feeds and supplements are available to do just that.

Things You'll Need

  • Senior feed
  • Hay pellets
  • Beet pulp
  • Soft grass type hay
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Instructions

    • 1

      Thoroughly examine the horse physically, to determine weight and overall health. You are looking for overall body condition: Are there ribs visible? Are there fat deposits over the tail head, or is the tail head prominently sticking out? Are the hindquarters plump and rounded, or are they sunken and pointed looking? Is the coat bright and soft, or dull and rough? Is there excessively long hair, or a short, smooth hair coat? Are the horse's eyes bright and interested, or dull and listless?

      Involve a veterinarian or equine dentist to make sure the health of the teeth is optimum. A dental procedure may be necessary to improve dental health. Aged horses are prone to dental issues such as missing teeth, sharp points that injure the teeth and tongue upon chewing, or infected teeth and gums. This makes it extremely difficult for the horse to chew properly, which prevents food stuffs from breaking down for absorption.

    • 2

      Determine how many teeth the horse has. Diet will be planned from there. If your horse is missing quite a few teeth, it will be unable to properly chew the hay and feed, resulting in significant weight loss. This would require a feeding program change to softer, more palatable feed, such as soaked senior feed pellets, soaked beet pulp and soaked hay pellets.

    • 3

      Manage your feeding program carefully for your aged horse. For a horse who is a hard keeper (a horse who eats a large amount of fat- and muscle-building feed, but still does not gain weight properly), adding in soaked hay pellets to the two-to-three-times-a-day feedings of senior feed will do wonders. Beet pulp is also a wonderful addition to a senior feeding regimen, as it aids in weight gain and hind gut health.

    • 4

      Provide proper shelter, as it is crucial for an aged horse's health and weight management. Shade in the summer and protection from wind and rain in the winter will allow the horse to maintain a more even body temperature. Winter care may also include the use of a blanket to help keep the horse warm and dry, conserving calories for maintaining healthy weight. Summer care may include the use of fly repellent and a fan to circulate air around the horse.

    • 5

      Increase your horse's fitness level. Exercise, attention and affection will also help keep your senior horse at its healthiest. Gentle exercise will keep the circulatory system healthier, muscles toned and able to support the body better, and it will also decrease the effects of any arthritic changes. Thorough grooming will allow you to monitor weight, and it will improve the health of the hair coat. Older horses often thrive when they have a job to do--even if it is simply you hopping on bareback to go get the mail from the mailbox.