Feeding the Senior Horse

One of our core beliefs is that good nutrition starts in utero for a long, healthy life for our equine friends. Starting with balanced nutrition in the womb, through development and maturity, our horses are living longer, healthier lives. But even with enhanced management, age begins to take a toll on digestive health. Read on to learn about the signs to watch for in your aging horse and when it may be time to switch to a senior diet.  

What Makes a Senior? Look for the Signs 

While 18 years or older has typically been the norm for a “senior” horse, now there are horses still competing in their top form at this age and beyond. With better preventative management, senior horses can now stay active longer, commonly reaching their late 20s or older in their respective jobs. This is why we like to determine if a horse is senior based not on chronological age, but rather individual physiological age. A horse becomes a senior when his system begins to change, whether he is 15 or 25. 

Here are some of the signs to look for: 

• Body condition can no longer be maintained on the horse’s regular diet without noticeable weight loss, poor hair coat, and hoof quality;
• Lost topline, muscle wasting or swayback;
• Shaggier hair cost that takes longer to shed out;
• Teeth loss, food dropping, less efficient digestion, joint issues, or metabolic concerns;
• Changes in behaviour such as changes in the horse’s pecking order within the herd; more time spent in the shade, napping.