Care for the ageing pony?

[LittleRoo]

I have a 14.1hh 17yr old pony. She's looking a bit lean and I don't seem to be able to get weight on her. Currently she's on 1 scoop saracen chaff, 1/2 scoop pasture mix, 1 scoop sugarbeet, good splosh of vegetable oil and a scoop of riaflex AM and PM. Ad lib soaked hay and about 2/3 hours of turn out a day. She is very fizzy/ bit of a nutter! So can't have too much "go faster" food. I've heard of people feeding pre / probiotics to help older horses put on weight? Anyone had any luck with this? Which ones?

Also, she's getting stiff these days. She already has her coffin joints medicated periodically. But seems to be getting stiff in her right shoulder. It gets better with work, just takes a long time to warm up. It's better if she's been in the field before I ride, and doesn't seem to bother her as much hacking. (had her back done, all is well) I was thinking of trying Vetrofen. Has anyone used this? What do you think?

Sorry for long post!! Look forward to hearing peoples experiences.
Many thanks

 

[hnmisty]

I'll start sounding like a rep soon, but I really did swear by blue chip for my 35y/o. She wasn't very stiff given her age, but it helped in that respect too.

 

[paulineh]

Which chaff are you using as they have several ones. I have just started my veterans on Spillers Senior Fibre which Contains glucosamine to support joint health and live yeast to support digestive health. My 23 year old is eating up well and she is normally very fussy with her feeds.

My 19 year old mare that although still slightly lame (she has Navicular) is otherwise moving well trotting around the field with the others.

You could give her some Linseed. If she is a bit fizzy I would cut out the pasture mix and anything that has Molasses in it. I would swop the Sugar Beet for Speedi beet

 

[JillA]

Cushings? Insulin resistance? I would be looking to ensure the sugar beet was unmollassed and ditch the mix, replace with grass nuts which have no cereals/starches.