Feeding Options for Problem Horses
Part 2: Senior Horses
Dr. Katie Young
Equine Nutritionist, Purina Mills, LLC
I don’t really consider older horses to be “problem horses”, but often as our horses age, we encounter difficult situations associated with the aging process. Older horses sometimes lose or gain too much weight, or they may have increased incidences of choke, colic or founder. Depending on the causes of these problems, we may be able to address some of them with nutrition.
First, we should define the “senior horse.” We typically think of a senior horse as one that is in its teens, but individual horses become “seniors” at different ages. The age at which a horse’s nutritional needs shift from those of a mature adult horse to those of a geriatric horse is determined by genetics and the way that horse was managed throughout its life. So basically, the horse itself determines when it becomes a “senior.” I look for some common indications of a horse whose nutritional needs are changing to determine when to start addressing the needs of a geriatric horse; for instance, it becomes more difficult to maintain the horse’s body weight on its traditional diet of hay or grass and feed, or the horse starts dropping wads of partially chewed hay on the ground. I usually start watching for any signs of changing nutritional needs when the horse reaches age 16 or so, but some horses go well into their twenties before needing any major diet changes. It is best for the horse if you pay close attention to these changes so you can address the horse’s special needs before any significant decline in condition or health occurs. Also, your veterinarian will be very helpful in determining when to begin to address the concerns of the aging horse, as well as helping to ensure the continuing good health and longevity of your horse.
Some of the problems common to older horses include worn or missing teeth, decreasing digestive efficiency, respiratory problems, difficulty in maintaining body weight, poor haircoat, chronic lameness, and anemia. Each of these situations may have causes unrelated to age, but addressing the nutritional needs of the individual horse can possibly improve the condition.
Dental
As a horse ages, the grinding motion of chewing wears the teeth down, and the teeth then erupt to replace what has worn away. At some point in the horse’s life, there is not enough tooth left to replace the wear, and the horse is no longer able to chew properly. Further, as the teeth wear they can develop sharp edges or “points” that can lacerate the cheeks and tongue. Finally, inadequate chewing can cause lack of salivation, which may result in poor lubrication for swallowing, thus increasing the possibility of choke.
Regular dental care is vital to maintain the horse’s teeth in good shape to chew properly. Senior horses often have difficulty chewing hay and even possibly grass due to the condition of their teeth because grass and hay have high fiber content. Even with excellent dental care, the time will come for an older horse when it must get its roughage from another source, such as Purina Equine Senior, because it just cannot chew adequately. Equine Senior is a complete feed, in that it contains the necessary roughage so that even the horse that is unable to chew hay will receive adequate fiber from its feed. At some point, Equine Senior may replace all of the hay in the horse’s diet. As the horse ages further, it may be beneficial to add water to the Equine Senior to produce a mash or gruel which will be even more edible for the horse with poor dental condition.
Digestive Tract
As the horse ages, its digestive tract becomes less efficient due to decreased motility, digestion, and absorption of nutrients. In these situations, feeding a processed feed instead of whole grains, and including higher nutrient levels in the feed will help provide adequate nutrition to meet the horse’s needs. Equine Senior is formulated to meet these increased nutrient requirements of the older horse.
Older horses may also suffer from colic due to a higher incidence of lipomas (fatty tumors), poor teeth, reduced exercise, and a higher risk of impactions. According to a study at Texas A&M University, the #1 risk factor for increasing the chance of colic is a change in hay. Making all feeding changes gradually, as well as providing adequate water, good quality feed and hay, and following good management practices will help reduce the risk of colic in the horse.
Working with your veterinarian to keep the horse on a proper deworming and parasite control program is also vital to maintain the health and efficiency of the digestive tract.
Respiration
Some older horses may have respiratory difficulties such as heaves or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If your veterinarian has diagnosed a respiratory condition in your older horse, changes in the feeding program and environment to reduce dust and allergens will be helpful. By feeding a complete feed such as Equine Senior, you can decrease or eliminate hay and thereby reduce the amount of dust and pollens that the horse inhales while eating hay.
Body Weight
It is more common to see older horses that are underweight than to see older horses that are overweight. As previously discussed, senior horses tend to have problems with poor tooth condition, along with decreased digestive efficiency. Using the methods described in Part One of this series will help in putting weight on the older horse, as well as using a processed feed that contains high quality, easily digested protein and readily digestible energy sources such as fat and fermentable fiber.
If the older horse is too fat, it is important to reduce the weight to maintain the horse at a body condition score of about five. Again, refer to Part One of this series. As long as the horse is able to utilize good quality hay, a good option for taking weight off a horse is to feed hay and Nature’s Essentials Born to Win or Mare and Maintenance. If the horse is not able to adequately chew its hay, it may be beneficial to reduce the amount of Equine Senior fed, or possibly feed Equine Adult, which is lower calorie and contains less fat than Senior.
Senior horses that are obese may suffer from Equine Metabolic Syndrome (sometimes referred to as “hypothyroidism” or peripheral Cushing’s syndrome). These horses tend to store excess fat especially along the crest of the neck, over the shoulders, on the rump, and in the sheath (geldings) and often exhibit chronic laminitis. Horses that are affected with Equine Metabolic Syndrome also exhibit insulin resistance, in which blood glucose (sugar) is not adequately removed from the blood via the hormone insulin. At this time, metabolic syndrome is not completely understood, but it is believed by researchers that obesity, as well as a genetic susceptibility, is an important predisposing condition. If Equine Metabolic Syndrome has been diagnosed, it may be helpful to reduce the amount of starch and sugars in the horse’s diet to help decrease the amount of blood glucose. Equine Senior is formulated to contain a reduced level of starch and sugars, and has been fed successfully to these horses. It is also important to look at the hay and or pasture fed in these situations, as grasses and alfalfa can contain high levels of starches and sugars.
Haircoat and Skin
Horses of all ages may suffer from poor haircoat and skin condition due to poor nutrition, but aging hoses may be especially susceptible. Good grooming and proper nutrition can go a long way toward resolving these conditions.
An older horse with a long haircoat that sheds late in the year, or incompletely, may be suffering from Cushing’s disease. Cushing’s disease is caused by a tumor in the pituitary gland in the horse’s brain. Symptoms include the long haircoat, loss of muscle mass, and excessive drinking and urination. If you feel that your horse is exhibiting these symptoms, consult your veterinarian. Horses with Cushing’s disease also exhibit insulin resistance, and will benefit from diets lower in starch and sugars, and higher in fat and fiber. Again, Equine Senior has been utilized successfully in caring for horses with Cushing’s disease.
Chronic Lameness
There are many causes of lameness in aging horses, such as chronic laminitis (founder), arthritis, or stiffness from weakened bones due to demineralization. Veterinary care is important in diagnosing the cause of lameness and alleviating pain.
As far as nutrition, the objective is to provide a nutritionally balanced diet with more calories provided by fat and fiber (as compared to calories provided by starch) along with adequate high quality protein and a good mineral balance to meet senior horse’s needs.
Anemia
In aging horses, anemia (a reduction in red blood cells) may be caused by poor nutrient utilization, a decrease in the production of red blood cells, or possibly a heavy parasite infestation. Providing a diet that is palatable, easily digested and nutritionally balanced, as well as maintaining a good parasite management program, will help ensure that the senior horse receives and utilizes the nutrients essential to its good health.
In summary, providing a good, nutritionally balanced diet to meet the special needs of the aging horse, such as Purina Equine Senior, in coordination with a overall health and management program as recommended by your veterinarian, will help ensure that your horse will live comfortably in good health for as long as possible.
