An older horse, no energy when ridden?

[HashRouge]

My mare was 18 in feb and came back into regular work about 5 or 6 weeks ago after a few months just hacking a few times a week. Instead of getting more energetic as she's gotten fitter, however, she's gotten increasingly lethargic and "tired" when I ride her. She also seems fairly flat in the field and won't join in when the other horses trot or canter - she'll just walk or maybe jog after them. I'm used to her being more laid back in summer, but this feels very different to how she usually is - she doesn't feel laid back, she feels tired!
I'm slightly unsure as to why she is like this, but I've decided to begin by looking at her feeds. She's a good doer (not fat, but doesn't lose weight) so has never been fed very much, but I've been wondering whether the fact that we don't have a lot of grass this year coupled with the fact that she isn't as young as she once was means that she just isn't getting the nutrients she needs to keep fit and healthy. Yesterday I started introducing her to a lo-cal feed balancer and a competition mix (which was recommended in smaller quantities for good doers who just needed a bit of extra "sparkle") so we'll see if that has any effect over the next few weeks. I also want to worm her again, as they're only wormed twice a year on our yard, although first I want to get a worm count done (I figured that was most sensible, because if she does have a high worm count I'll be able to persuade my YO they should be wormed more often). She is due her jabs in the next week or two so I'm also going to mention it to my vet, as if she doesn't pick up I'll want to have bloods done. Do you think I'm on the right track and can you think of anything else I could try? I just hate the feeling that she isn't enjoying being ridden when she's always been such a bouncy, happy pony!

 

[ladyt25]

It could be that she's a bit a anaemic so may be worthwhile having bloods taken to be honest. I have fed mine Kossolian blood salts in the past which helped him a lot on the energy front. Mine is 20 this year and actually hasn't had the kossolian for a year or so as, as the moment is on A&P's power and performance feed which has many of the same ingredients in. Also, I am not doing so many competitons with him now (no longer do BSJA stuff) but he seems ok and has enough energy for what I need.

 

[OWLIE185]

I would ask your vet to thoroughly check her out and get blood taken including for emerging encysted small redworm and tapeworms as these do not show up in a worm count. Also get her checked out for Ragwort poisoning.

 

[NOISYGIRL]

My horse is 32, to cut a long story short, was having yearly vacs done and vet commented on his pale gums, had normal vet who said to consider his age, and if he was 5 years old doing few hours work a day he'd expect pink gums so not to be too worried. So.......... I hadn't noticed any change in him, eg lethargy, I had stopped his formula for feet he was getting due to cost, the vet said it could be something as simple as that and to get him back on a good vit and min supplement, he said Equivite, he's also on NAF EnerG or you could use Propell or Red Cell and lots of Alfa A Lite.

Anyhoo, after being back on his supplements I have noticed a difference, what I thought was like when they go dozy in the sun must have been him feeling a little lethargic and I hadn't really noticed. He is back to normal, weird how I didn't notice though, it was quite a subtle change. His gums are pinker than they were, but having done a survey on all the horses gums on my yard, none of them seem to be alot pinker some the same as him so I'm alot happier.

It could be something as simple as that, I wouldn't be feeding competition mix in a hurry, mine would only have to sniff it and he' d go nuts, be careful, you don't want to start problems like tying up giving too much of that sort of feed without the work, stick to high fibre.

If I hadn't seen an improvement I'd have had bloods done, but its worth a go with vits and mins before coughing up for blood, just give it a month 6 weeks if no improvement get bloods

 

[spaniel]

I would get the vet in now and get your tests and wormings done rather than waiting. If theres no obvious cause Im afraid you will have to accept that you cant expect your granny to sprint three times round the playing fields like the young kids do. Theres loads of life left in an older horse for you both to enjoy....just more slowly!