Because our “specialty” here is retirement of elderly horses, we are often asked what we do to keep them in such good shape. Is it the feed? This page is dedicated to our older equine friends and we hope it will give their owners some encouragement and insight as to what these seniors need! Remember that older horses DO NOT HAVE TO BE THIN. This is a common misconception.
Your senior horse needs regular vet care. They need their teeth checked twice a year and floated if necessary. Sometimes their teeth will begin to fall out and your vet can tell you if this is “normal” or not. Senior horses also need close monitoring to see if they are losing weight, running fevers or are lame in any way. It is a good idea to have the vet draw blood yearly and check for any problems like tick borne diseases, Cushings disease, cancer or anemia. Don’t neglect your elder horse’s feet! They need regular trims whether they are ridden or not and have your farrier pay very close attention to any possible hoof issues going on like thrush or white line. No hoof = No horse! They need deworming every two months and keep them on a good rotation schedule. Ask your vet for a deworming plan. They are happy to help with this and it can vary depending on where you live.
Now we get into the feeding of your senior. Let’s assume that the horse is doing fine but is losing a bit of weight. You had his teeth checked and floated and that looks good. Your vet or dentist can tell you if your horse can eat hay or not. If you see quids around the stock tank or hay pile (quids are wadded up hay or grass clumps that your horse tried to eat but ended up dropping out of his mouth) it is time to take your horse off hay and try something else. Most of the senior “grains” can replace hay but you must slowly increase the amount you give your horse so you do not cause the horse to colic or founder. Slow and steady wins the race with regard to feeding!! Watch out for choke with your older horses also!
There are also products on the market which are wonderful for the senior horse. Chaffhaye is a good “hay” product which consists of chopped alfalfa or grass hay which is misted with water and a bit of molasses bagged in airtight bags and has a long shelf life. You must pull it apart when you feed making sure there are not large clumps in the pail. Some horses will dive right in and this can result in choke. Watch your horse carefully when you begin to feed it. We also buy a product called beet pulp. It is very high in fiber and easy for your senior to eat. You must add water to it and let it soak preferably overnight and NEVER feed it dry as that can also cause choke. So, between good senior feed (grain), Chaffhaye and beet pulp you should be able to satisfy your senior’s hunger. If you can feed this mixture three times a day in smaller quantities, that is wonderful. If you can only feed twice a day, that will work. We start out with a 5 gallon feed bucket. We put Chaffhaye in the bottom, put sloppy beet pulp on top of that and then the senior feed on the top of the beet pulp. In the winter months we add up to 1/2 cup of corn oil for added fat. We end up with a full bucket of nutrition for the horse. Also, our seniors are kept away from the other horses so that we know they are getting all that they need.
Now, let’s talk about supplements. As you know there are hundreds if not thousands of products on the market. Determine what you need for your own horse not what other horses need. All horses need adequate salt and this includes your senior horse. Adding salt to their diet encourages them to drink enough water especially in the colder months. Is your senior showing signs of arthritis? Find a good joint supplement. Most seniors can benefit from a joint supplement. Does he seem weak and the vet is not sure what is going on? Try a blood builder like Red Cell. It is also wise to add a psyllium product to your horse’s diet for one week out of each month to help pass sand in their gut. Sand Clear is great but there are others out there also. Ground flax seed assists your horse in digestion and getting rid of sand in his gut. NEVER FEED IT WHOLE - IT MUST BE GROUND. Watch your flax seed to make sure it does not become rancid in the hot weather. Refrigerate it and only use 1/8 cup (or less) daily. Ground flax seed is rich in omega 3’s and it is very beneficial for your senior horse. His coat will shine and he will feel better overall.
We like to grate carrots and apples and offer this to our seniors often. We also feed a daily supplement called Equishine and we really like how it helps all our horses maintain and build good health.
We hope this helps your senior horses and you make some decisions on what to feed your senior horse. Please start with your vet to rule out any conditions your elderly friend might have. This is very important for your horse’s health. Vaccinate your senior horses and follow what the vet recommends for your area. ALWAYS. It goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway. Learn how to take your horse’s temperature and monitor his heart and respiration. Your vet is happy to show you how to do this also.
I will update this page as I think of more things. I’d like to say thank you to all of you out there taking good care of your elderly friends. Believe me when I say that they appreciate your care and dedication to their well being.
Goldie enjoys his retirement at 30 something years of age!
