What is the best feed for senior horses?
The horse needs to be able to chew and break down the hay, so select good-quality, soft hay that isn’t overly mature; it shouldn’t have thick, fibrous stalks. Coleman has found that mixed grass-legume hay, such as orchard-alfalfa or timothy-alfalfa, is often a good choice.
Are Oats good for older horses?
Oats are a very good source of quick-release energy (predominantly in the form of starch, but also some sugar) for horses in work. Oats are a good source of the mineral phosphorus, and also provide protein (about 13%) and fibre, plus B vitamins.
Why is Hay difficult for an older horse to eat?
Older horses often have difficulty eating hay because their teeth are either worn down or missing. The high fiber content in senior feed is of value when you have to reduce or eliminate hay (long-stem forage) from the horse’s diet.
When to switch your horse to senior feed?
After ruling these out, you may want to consider switching your horse over to a senior feed, which is specifically designed to meet the needs of older horses. “Senior feeds were developed to provide a nutrient source for horses that may have issues eating long-stem forage and have reduced digestive function due to age.
What kind of grain can a senior horse eat?
As horses aged and chewing became difficult, the best available options might’ve included beet pulp, a bran mash, or soaked alfalfa pellets. Now: “Grain” has been replaced by “concentrates,” or combination feeds carefully designed by equine nutritionists to meet your horse’s specific needs, especially for seniors.
Why is it important to feed an older horse?
Equine nutritionists take this into consideration when formulating senior feeds. That’s why these rations usually have increased protein and fat content to provide more calories and the amino acids needed for normal function. Senior feeds are also usually high in fiber and come in a pelleted form that is easy for older horses to chew.
Older horses often have difficulty eating hay because their teeth are either worn down or missing. The high fiber content in senior feed is of value when you have to reduce or eliminate hay (long-stem forage) from the horse’s diet.
After ruling these out, you may want to consider switching your horse over to a senior feed, which is specifically designed to meet the needs of older horses. “Senior feeds were developed to provide a nutrient source for horses that may have issues eating long-stem forage and have reduced digestive function due to age.
What should I put in my senior horse’s feed?
Senior feeds are also usually high in fiber and come in a pelleted form that is easy for older horses to chew. To help support digestion and nutrient absorption, you may want to add a prebiotic/probiotic supplement to your horse’s daily ration.
What to look for in a senior horse?
Look for an easy-to-chew senior diet designed to meet all of his needs, even if he can’t eat hay. Finally, if your vet diagnoses a medical condition such as pituitary pars intermediary dysfunction (PPID, also called Cushing’s disease) or kidney failure, a specially designed diet can help improve your horse’s health.