Feed for an older horse

F

fairhill

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 July 2006
Messages
2,551
Location
Cheshire
Visit site
Posted for a friend. She's got an elderly horse who is balling his feed and haylage. His teeth were seen by a good dentist a few weeks ago, and by the vet yesterday. There is one back tooth with a hook which is causing the balling, but it is too loose to be rasped.

The vet has recommended giving him readigrass, but he was on this last year and only ate less than half a bags worth, before turning his nose up at it.

So does anyone know of any other tasty hay replacements she can use to supplement his diet? Otherwise she'll be shredding the haylage for him
smile.gif


Thanks
laugh.gif
 
what about fibre beet? Just like speedi beet made by the samepeople, think that can be used as a forage replacer, and its a wet feet so easy to eat.

Or hi fi senior.
 
My friend uses Spillers High Fibre Cubes - she soaks them for her 36yo and he loves them and has never looked so good.

She tried several others but he turned his nose up at them. He is turned out during the day and still has a little nibble on the haylege a night but it is the soaked fibre cubes that keep him going.
 
Fibre Beet is like Alfa Beet - 50% alfalfa and 50% unmollassed sugar beet and may be used for up to 40% of the horse's rations I think. My 36 year old gets a bucket of that and a container of Hi Fi Senior - lightly mollassed, soft, short chop alfalfa, which seems to me the easiest option if the horse can still chew it. If it can't, soaked high fibre cubes like Badminton High Fibre Nuggets or the Spillers High Fibre Cubes may be used as a complete hay replacer.

Topspec have just brought out a similar cubed product - Fibre Plus which has a considerably higher fibre content than the two I've mentioned, and a similar amount to hay. I am going to try it later in the Winter as my horse is not eating much Hi Fi, though that may be because she still has a lot of grass which she is able to manage. She also has 3lb Dodson and Horrell 16+ mix daily, soaked in hot water.
 
about the teeth, i have this problem but with a younger pony so not loose teeth. you can treat the hook, talk to other equine dentists in your area, we use a little bravel (prob can't spell) which is one of those hoby drills. you might have to sedate a little bit but as there is no rasping the hook should be sliced off, with the tooth ok. and the pony will be able to eat better, its only the start of the winter and it would be a long winter on fiber nuts
 
I had a pony with a similar problem. We used Spiller's Happy Hoof as a hay replacement - this is a softer texture than some chaff type feeds, she would not eat Hi Fi Lite, for example. It does work out expensive though, even for a little pony.

Other slightly cheaper options are soaked cubes, speedibeet and one of the alfafa/beet products such as Alfa Beet. Adding oil to his diet will also supply lots of calories.

Spillers have some advice for this sort of horse on their website, here:

http://www.spillers-feeds.com/en-gb/unit...#elderlyHorses1

Dengie also do a 'hay replacer helpsheet' but this does not seem to be available on their website, I think you have to ring and ask for it.

Some feeds, such as Happy Hoof and High Fibre Cubes, can be fed as the whole ration. If you decide to feed other feeds, especially the alfafa based ones, then check with the manufacturer how much it is safe to feed a day.
 
Fairhill, I have a Golden Oldie and I swear by Mollichaff Veteran chaff, just with Speedibeet. It is an oat-straw based chaff but also contains lashings of mint, herbs, vits and mins and it smells so gorgeous I wish they made it for people! My horse loves it and would eat it dry straight from the bag given half a chance! He's doing very well on it. The speedibeet makes it wet and easy to chew and you can make it wetter or dryer as you choose. Initially, I was adding a mug of Blue Chip original but tbh he doesn't need it as the Veteran Chaff has all he needs. Good luck!
 
We've got a 40yo and he gets barley rings with a kettle poured over them and then 1/2 scoop mix and a bit of chaff. Gets that twice a day and lots of grass and nice warm T/O rug. Does really well on it.
 
Try Dengie - they have a wonderful recipe for the older horses. Sort of Hi Fi and Alpha beet etc all mixed up for a hay replacer.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top