It seems funny that people have been raising horses for centuries and seem to do all right. Unfortunately, we ourselves create the majority of our problems due to advanced genetics, specialized feeds and insufficient information. Many of us in the nutrition and feed manufacturing business have felt the frustration of having our formulas and our feed blamed for a myriad of problems on the horse stud and in the stable. It Feeding Geriatrics - These days, more and more horses are living into their 20s and 30s, and even beyond. This is a direct result of the improved level of veterinary care we've been able to provide for the last 30 years or so.
Nutrition plays a role as well.
In most respects, very little about the management of draft horses has changed over the centuries. Tradition plays a larger role in the care and feeding of heavy horses than in most other realms of the equine industry, mostly because keeping and enjoying these breeds often is passed down through generations of family. Not only that, but they labor under a unique handicap-they are almost always asked to hit a performance peak while their bodies still are immature and growing. It's a double whammy that from a feeding point of view is a serious challenge. Rate It Feeding the Athlete - The years of training are beginning to show some rewards.