sallypops
Well-Known Member
since becky is 24 i want to get her a really good quality feed and maybe a supplement for her stiff legs during winter. for those of you with elderly ponies what do u feed them in winter???
good feeds for elderly horses
- Thread starter sallypops
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Mooch
Well-Known Member
I've got a very old lad.
I have messed about with feeds and have finally found what suits him.
He gets Top Spec Conditioning Cubes and D & H's Build Up, Pink Powder, garlic and the soluable Superflex.
He is out 24/7, so gets grass all day and extra hay or hayledge now we are hitting winter.
I have messed about with feeds and have finally found what suits him.
He gets Top Spec Conditioning Cubes and D & H's Build Up, Pink Powder, garlic and the soluable Superflex.
He is out 24/7, so gets grass all day and extra hay or hayledge now we are hitting winter.
sallypops
Well-Known Member
yeh she out 24/7 too, shes getting extra hayledge as she just in the small paddock since pops in just now, and the sheep have taken over the big field
what does the pink powder do??
Porkie
Well-Known Member
Mooch - how old is your lad ??
My boy is 26 and he's a very good doer. He currently doesn't get any special veteran feed as have been told that while he is still doing well on what he is on I have no need to change it ( I suppose because he is a good doer and I have no trouble keeping weight on - I have the opposite problem of keeping the weight off !!)
He gets one level scoop hi-fi light, and 1/4 scoop horse & pony nuts twice a day. I add garlic, cod liver oild, ventil-ate for his breathing and equiflex for his joints. He has an 8lb soaked haynet at night and controlled grazing with a muzzle during the day.
He's feeling very well on it at the mo - took off with me over the fields at the weekend !!!
Everyone on the yard was laughing cos they just think he's the old lad who just wants to eat!! They'd feel differently if they rode him I'll tell you !! He has his slow days but he also has his feeling very well pee off with you days too !!!
Gotta love a golden oldie !!
My boy is 26 and he's a very good doer. He currently doesn't get any special veteran feed as have been told that while he is still doing well on what he is on I have no need to change it ( I suppose because he is a good doer and I have no trouble keeping weight on - I have the opposite problem of keeping the weight off !!)
He gets one level scoop hi-fi light, and 1/4 scoop horse & pony nuts twice a day. I add garlic, cod liver oild, ventil-ate for his breathing and equiflex for his joints. He has an 8lb soaked haynet at night and controlled grazing with a muzzle during the day.
He's feeling very well on it at the mo - took off with me over the fields at the weekend !!!
Gotta love a golden oldie !!
Mooch
Well-Known Member
Pink powder is a concentrated feed balancer containing naturally occurring yeasts, probiotics and proteins.
They help the large intestine but keeping all the bacteria well balanced. Which in turn helps the horse use the feed you are giving them.
I had great success last year by just feeding the Top Spec, but he did loose some weight towards the end of winter. He is a sod for just dropping his weight all of a sudden and worrying me sick!
I was reading a website for a rehab equine place and they said they fed the Build Up along with the Top Spec, so I thought I would give it a try.
He is going into winter this year with a very nice covering of podge and certainly seems to be the fittest he has been for several winters.
He is only on one feed a day at the mo, but I'll up that as the weather turns colder and he needs more feed. I'm chuffed to bits with how the feed is working.
They help the large intestine but keeping all the bacteria well balanced. Which in turn helps the horse use the feed you are giving them.
I had great success last year by just feeding the Top Spec, but he did loose some weight towards the end of winter. He is a sod for just dropping his weight all of a sudden and worrying me sick!
I was reading a website for a rehab equine place and they said they fed the Build Up along with the Top Spec, so I thought I would give it a try.
He is going into winter this year with a very nice covering of podge and certainly seems to be the fittest he has been for several winters.
He is only on one feed a day at the mo, but I'll up that as the weather turns colder and he needs more feed. I'm chuffed to bits with how the feed is working.
Chex
Well-Known Member
Chex is a fatty, so only gets a handful of Happy Hoof and speedibeet. He gets Newmarket Joint Supplement for his joints. If he needed weight gain I'd go for 16+ probably, and change to a mollichaff or Alfa-A oil, with Alfa-beet. I think, not done much research into it though! He's 25.
Mooch
Well-Known Member
We are not a 100% sure how old he is, but after having a molar drop out of his mouth several years ago when the vet came to do his teeth, we realised he is very old indeed.
We had a good old root around his mouth and bless him he doesn't have much top tooth left now!
At the time it was estimated that he was in his very late 30's early 40's. So I say he's about 39 now!
And it is true, these oldies do surprise us! Jerry is so full of characture it is untrue.
The sod jumped one of the fences again the other day, just because he wasn't allowed out of the field as I was taking the car out. My friend was in stitches.
We had a good old root around his mouth and bless him he doesn't have much top tooth left now!
At the time it was estimated that he was in his very late 30's early 40's. So I say he's about 39 now!
And it is true, these oldies do surprise us! Jerry is so full of characture it is untrue.
The sod jumped one of the fences again the other day, just because he wasn't allowed out of the field as I was taking the car out. My friend was in stitches.
Porkie
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
At the time it was estimated that he was in his very late 30's early 40's. So I say he's about 39 now!
[/ QUOTE ]
Wow! Hope my boy is still going strong to that age ! Last time the dentist came out he said his teeth were fantastic for his age no particular sign of deterioration - infact his parting words were 'I'm very sorry to say ....... he's going to be able to eat better now' !!!
And considering at 23 he had a major accident, mushed his knee to pieces
, had 4 major operations in 4 days ............. vet says he shouldn't even be here let alone be sound, but he came sound after just 3 months and has been back in light but full work with me for the last 18 months or so since I took him on loan.
I feel very privilaged to be his foster mummy, he makes me smile very single day !!
At the time it was estimated that he was in his very late 30's early 40's. So I say he's about 39 now!
[/ QUOTE ]
Wow! Hope my boy is still going strong to that age ! Last time the dentist came out he said his teeth were fantastic for his age no particular sign of deterioration - infact his parting words were 'I'm very sorry to say ....... he's going to be able to eat better now' !!!
I feel very privilaged to be his foster mummy, he makes me smile very single day !!
Toby_Zaphod
Well-Known Member
All horses requirements differ, specially when they are getting on in years. Most feed company do a variety of feeds aimed at the veteran market. Most of the companies have an advice line on their websites & you can email the details of your horse to them & they will have a nutritionist email you details of what they think back to you. You can tell them what you are feeding at the present time & you'll find they do not 'rubbish' other companies products. It's free so email Dodson & Horrell, Spillers. Baileys etc.
LizzieJ
Well-Known Member
My old pony is 40. I feed him Spillers senior conditioning mix. I don't feed any supplements as he's still totally sound. This is the first year he has had to have hard feed because some of his teeth have fallen out. He barged out through his stable door friday and he'd only been in 10 minutes - completely smashed the door! Yesterday I put him in one of the bigger stables and he's smashed the door and frame on that one! I still have to lead him in a bridle too.
Puppy
Well-Known Member
Another vote for Spillers senior conditioning mix, which Star has when I'm trying to build her up, or in the summer when the grass is good she has their Senior maintenance mix. I also use Dengie senior chaff
OWLIE185
Well-Known Member
I give them Formulae Feet, Linseed, Cod Liver Oil, Lo-Cal, Hi-Fi Light and lots of well soaked hay at night. I also rug them in their stables when it gets cold at night and put a light weight waterproof rug on them during the day.
buffy2
Well-Known Member
My oap has high fibre cubes/sugar beet may be changing to alfabeet she gets this has her hay net alternative has she has hardly any teeth left.but with the above replies may try the pink powder has well.
Cuffey
Well-Known Member
Alfabeet or Fibrebeet, Spillers Hi Fi Cubes soaked
Steam hay to soften--they drink the hay tea in the bottom of the tub or soft sheep hay or haylage
Top Spec Balancer
Steam hay to soften--they drink the hay tea in the bottom of the tub or soft sheep hay or haylage
Top Spec Balancer
fuzzyp
Well-Known Member
Horsefair Bricks are an excellent source of fibre and manitains weight and promotes condition. We use them on our oldies (103 of them) at work and they are fabulous. We soak ours with hi fi nuts to make a sort of mash.
vieshot
Well-Known Member
My older one is on 16 plus mix with chaff! Sugar beet too soon xxx
S_N
Well-Known Member
Berry was on Good Doer in the summer. Now he is on D&H Alfalfa-Oil + hay + carrots. If he needs it, he will have SB too over the winter months. I may put him on Clop too, will wait an see. ATM he's shiney, fat and happy.