Keeping Weight on an Older Horse
As a Horse starts to get older, keeping weight on them can become hard. Often they develop teeth problems and dietary issues.
Reasons Why
For some older horses simply feeding to their age and lifestyle is the best way to keep the weight on. Analysis what you are actually feeding them. Is it appropriate to their work schedule, breed, age and sex? Be mindful of what supplements they are on as some can make conditions like liver and kidney failure worse. Also, keep an eye on how much feed they are actually consuming. Make sure they are not being pushed away from the feed by other paddock mates.Be mindful that if your older horse is failing and quickly losing weight, talking to your Vet may be appropriate. Many older horses are susceptible to Cushing’s disease; liver, kidney, and intestinal dysfunction; decreased saliva production; tumours; and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disorder (SPAOD) and major teeth problems. Many of these can be remedied with proper feeding to the condition.
How to Help
Given that your horse is not on a diet recommended for a condition to accommodate for teeth by a vet, you should feed to your horses need and situation.
High-quality hay or grass is recommended along with feed designed for older horses, free water and salt. Provide soft grass such as brome or timothy and avoid ones with high calcium content as it is hard on older horses kidneys. For horses with dental problems, it is essential to avoid low-quality hard, stalky hay that is hard to chew. Unlimited hay or grass is recommended unless the horse is prone to laminitis, founder or obesity.
When feeding concentrates or senior formulas pelleted or extruded formulas are recommended. Many complete formulas include most of the supplements and nutrients needed for older horses that are highly digestible and balanced. It is still recommended to have grass or hay available as extra fibre and to help avoid conditions such as ulcers.
Remember
If your old horse is healthy and happy don't mess with them. As the saying goes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Don't mess with an already good system or you could turn things for the worse.
Comments
Post a Comment