MENU CATEGORIES Categories Select Category Animal Feeds Animal Health Animal Husbandry Equine Events Farm Machinery Job Vacancies News Pets Poultry ARCHIVES Archives Select Month November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 November 2019 September 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 March 2018 February 2018 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 EQUINE, NEWS Feed & Management Tips for Senior Horses POSTED ON 9 NOVEMBER 2021 BY CARRS BILLINGON 09 Nov No two senior horses are the same which means the most suitable diet and management for your horse will depend on his individual needs. However, we’ve teamed up with SPILLERS™ to provide you with some tops tips to help you make sure your golden oldie gets the care they deserve. 1. Not all senior horses are prone to weight loss! Balancers such as SPILLERS Supple + Senior Balancer are the ideal way to provide good doers with additional vitamins, minerals and amino acids to balance a forage-based diet, without excess calories. Obesity comes with a host of health and welfare implications including an increased risk of laminitis and certain types of colic, excess joint strain, heat intolerance and respiratory stress. Excess weight gain can also exacerbate ‘inflamm-aging’ – chronic low grade inflammation associated with ageing. 2. A diet low in non-structural carbohydrate or ‘starch and sugar’ is essential for seniors prone to laminitis, including those with PPID. 3. Pain or difficulty chewing can lead to weight loss and digestive upsets including choke, colic and loose droppings, making hay replacers essential for those unable to manage long fibre (or grazing). Possible options include short chopped fibres such as SPILLERS HAPPY HOOF and mashes such as SPILLERS Speedy-Mash Fibre and SPILLERS Senior-Super Mash. 4. Hay replacers should be divided into a minimum of four meals for those without access to grazing. Horses fed hay replacers may need to be separated from their companions at meal times to prevent sharing or bullying. 5. If your horse is reluctant to drink in cold weather, try adding some hot water to his buckets to take the chill off – some older horses have sensitive teeth! You can also try using warm water to soak mashes or dampen feeds. Reduced water intake is a risk factor for impaction colic, particularly in stabled horses fed dry hay. 6. Turnout provides gentle exercise but try to avoid uneven ground, steep inclines and heavily poached paddocks as they increase joint strain. 7. Arthritis in the neck or forelimbs may make grazing, lowering the head to eat or drink from ground level or pulling hay from a net uncomfortable. Speak to your vet if you have any concerns and try offering feed and water from raised buckets, mangers and troughs. 8. Choose field companions carefully. Older horse may be at risk of bullying and be prevented from accessing feed/ forage or shelter by more dominant members of the herd. 9. Some older horses have difficulty regulating their body temperature and may need their rugs changing more frequently. Did you know that getting too hot increases the risk of colic and can lead to reduced appetite, particularly in horses with PPID? Getting too hot can also contribute to excess weight loss, as can getting too cold. 10. If your senior has become fussy with age, consider feeds with added herbs or aromas such as SPILLERS Senior Complete Care Mix. Changes in routine or being separated from companions can also make some seniors reluctant to tuck into their feed or forage. If you need any further advice about feeding your senior horse or pony you can speak to a SPILLERS nutritionist by calling 01908 226626, Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm. This entry was posted in Equine, News. Bookmark the permalink. CARRS BILLINGON Time4Calving: Our Guide To Calf Milk Replacers Balloch Vacancies REGISTERED ADDRESS Agriculture (Sales) Limited, a company registered in England and Wales under number 189740 whose registered office is at: Old Croft, Stanwix, Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 9BA INFORMATION Home Company Profile Careers Terms & Conditions Carrs Billington Fuels Terms and Conditions Anti-Slavery Statement Privacy & Cookie Policy Copyright Disclaimer Contact Us Gender Pay Gap report MACHINERY Out of Hours Machinery Numbers Copyright 2021 © Carrs Billington Agriculture (Sales) Ltd. All rights reserved. VAT Registered: 514487736