Feeding the Geriatric Horse
As horses age, maintaining an
adequate weight is sometimes difficult. With age, their digestive
tract may not be as efficient at utilizing the food they are fed.
Older horses are more susceptible to parasitism and they have more
frequent dental problems. If you have an older, thin horse the first
two steps are to have their teeth evaluated (once to twice a year for a
horse over 20 years old) and to ensure they are on a regular deworming
program. With those important factors accounted for, a weight gain
feeding regimen can be instituted.
When feeding a horse for weight gain the following feedstuffs are very helpful:
1. A complete pelleted feed such as Equine Senior. Feed at 10-15lbs daily for a 1000lb horse.
2. Corn Oil: this provides a concentrated source of calories. Begin with ΒΌ cup twice daily and work up to 1 cup twice daily.
3. Rice Bran: this is also very dense in calories and will often improve hair coat quality. Feed 2-4 cups twice daily.
4. Dried Beet Pulp: this byproduct of sugar beet processing is a cross between a forage and a grain, providing more energy than hay but still keeping intestinal microbes healthy with adequate fiber content. It can constitute up to 50% of the diet, but introduce it slowly by feeding 1lb twice daily and increasing as needed up to about 4lb twice daily.
5. Offer high quality hay. Grass and oat hay are generally better than alfalfa for older horses.
6. A probiotic such as ForCo, Fastrak or ProBios may help the horse digest food more efficiently.
7. Provide a trace mineralized salt block and fresh water at all times.
If all of the above have been instituted and the horse is still thin or lethargic or has loose stool please call your veterinarian. A complete physical exam and blood tests may be indicated to determine if there are other medical problems involved such as heart, liver or kidney disease.
When feeding a horse for weight gain the following feedstuffs are very helpful:
1. A complete pelleted feed such as Equine Senior. Feed at 10-15lbs daily for a 1000lb horse.
2. Corn Oil: this provides a concentrated source of calories. Begin with ΒΌ cup twice daily and work up to 1 cup twice daily.
3. Rice Bran: this is also very dense in calories and will often improve hair coat quality. Feed 2-4 cups twice daily.
4. Dried Beet Pulp: this byproduct of sugar beet processing is a cross between a forage and a grain, providing more energy than hay but still keeping intestinal microbes healthy with adequate fiber content. It can constitute up to 50% of the diet, but introduce it slowly by feeding 1lb twice daily and increasing as needed up to about 4lb twice daily.
5. Offer high quality hay. Grass and oat hay are generally better than alfalfa for older horses.
6. A probiotic such as ForCo, Fastrak or ProBios may help the horse digest food more efficiently.
7. Provide a trace mineralized salt block and fresh water at all times.
If all of the above have been instituted and the horse is still thin or lethargic or has loose stool please call your veterinarian. A complete physical exam and blood tests may be indicated to determine if there are other medical problems involved such as heart, liver or kidney disease.
