What We’re Learning About Senior Horses
You’re likely eager for fresh information on how to care for your equids over 20, hoping they will live as long as possible but with a good quality of life.
You’re likely eager for fresh information on how to care for your equids over 20, hoping they will live as long as possible but with a good quality of life.
Senior horses comprise a unique portion of the equine population, often harboring special dental and dietary needs.
There are steps that can help older equids stay at a proper weight through their golden years.
There’s something special about the relationship you have with your senior horse, a partnership that’s endured years, tears, ups, and downs
Any horse 4 to 5 years or older that spends most of his days relaxing in his pasture while going for the occasional ride is considered a horse at maintenance
If you’ve got an old-timer out in the field, you’re one of the millions of horse owners worldwide benefiting from improved equine preventive care techniques and a better understanding of conditions seen in older horses.
The ability to bite and chew food so we can digest our meals (and, hence, absorb nutrients) properly.
The only source to avoid is the rumen-protectant variety of fat designed for cattle, which horses will find at best indigestible and at worst, toxic. (You won’t run into this one unless you ask for it specifically at the feed store.)
Even if your senior has weathered previous winters without trouble, these tips can help you ensure he’s getting the care he needs and deserves.
Dental problems are a common problem among aging horses. Poor dentition creates a snowball effect of health issues that leads to malnutrition, which inevitably leads to weight loss. Thus, having your older horse on an appropriate proper diet is essential in prolonging their health.