New Veteran Horse - You Top Tips Please!

lizijj

lizijj

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Hi, I have recently purchased a 17 year old Cob x (possibly TB), approx 15.3hh, as a happy hacker for my mother in law to learn to ride on. He is bright, forward going but sane and sensible. I have always had younger horses, and so would find any advice or top tips for an older horse invaluable.
His present weight is approx a score of 3/5, but has a big belly so I will give him a good worming.
He will be ridden out hacking a few times a week, but may build up to some non competitive endurance rides. He has very good grazing, but also has a stable available.
All my own horses/ponies live out, 24/7 in 6 acres with natural shelter - but all are under 10 years. I feed them by the eye (only grass/hay unless in competition), and only rug in the worst of weather - only then if they seem cold. This has always (touch wood) kept them healthy and happy - they range from Shetlands to TBs, (I restrict the good dooers in the spring).
I would be really grateful of any advice, whether to pass this system on to our new 'old' boy, or if there is anything else I need to consider to his wellbeing.
Thanks in advance for any 'top tips'!
 
With any new horse, it's going to take a while to get to know him, but by the sound of it, the routine you've got with all your others is working very well for you. One thing I would suggest, is consider putting him on a specific veteran diet. I feed my 20 year old pure arab Spillers Conditioning Fibre and Senior Balancer, it seems to suit him very well. The amount of balancer remains the same throughout the year, but the amount of fibre changes according to his weight, condition etc. Fred also lives out 24/7 now. This last winter was the first he spent out (due to his field companion having a locking stifle), he looks just as good now, if not better, than he has done being stabled! A variety of rugs helped me alot! Regular back and teeth checks and worming is also a really good idea. I must me doing something right, as lots of people can't believe he's as old as he is and we had a best season last summer showing with several veteran and arab class wins!! Hope this is of some help to you, good luck :D

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Thanks for your reply! His previous owner was really concerned that he should be stabled at night, but I have always found that the most natural life is best for them as long as they are happy. I also have friends in Nebraska, where the horses live out all year - 100 degrees in the summer and 5ft snow in the winter! No rugs, no stables, and they have won awards for their QH breeding. I guess it will be a gradual process of changing his previous routine, and will look at the veteran fibre products available.
Well done you on your horses! Do you use any supplements for joints etc?
 
Hi. Congratulations on your new addition and I hope you have lots of fun with him. As he is meant for your mum to learn to ride I would be careful about feeding veteran mix as this has the effect of rocket fuel on my lad.

You could also consider a joint supplement as this does seem to make a difference. As bexl says lots of different weight rugs do help and maybe rug him earlier than the others next winter but otherwise he should fit happily in to your current routine
 
I've never used any joint supplement for him as I've found that being out 24/7 has helped and the balancer I feed already has some glucosomine in it. Horses do age differently, so I would just keep an eye on him and make any decisions regarding supplements as you see fit.

Here's to you having many happy years together :)
 
Well done you for taking on a older horse. I echo the others about feed/joint supplements etc and also enjoy him too ie keep him active and involved as I think this keeps them going.

My best friend has just lost her 37yr old Arab x, she was still doing cross country till she was 30!! And still came out on short hacks with the other horse till feb this year if the weather was dry, and she wasn't lagging behind either, whoever got the short straw would be dragged around and jumped on by her spooking at things that she'd seen at least 1000 times before but it was fun to spook cause it made the other horse jump.

She was a one in a million pony and you don't get many to that age but with care you can keep them going for as long as poss xx
 
Great idea to buy an older horse for your mum.
I've got a 22yr old Tb mare - and she's lived out all year until this year when I moved yards and she had to come in at night to save the fields.
She's been fine - but as she ages she does feel the cold more so I find I have to rug her quite well, especially in wet and windy weather.
S :D
 
Hi I have a 32yo Arab, he retired at 30 but is still going strong! He's actually the toughest nut on the yard and would live out most of the year, but we're not allowed 24h grazing so he's spoilt instead:D I have always fed chaff, s.beet and leisure mix, he drops a little in winter so he gets A&P Weight Gain. Ive never really found the Veteran mixes to make a difference. He gets haylage over winter, hay in summer and a GP supplement. He is prone to a dicky tum so occasionaly gets pre/probiotic - but only around spring/autumn as this is when his tum kicks off. He has a huge coat and can overheat so I dont over rug. Other than that he's treated as the rest and will probably out live all of us!
 
Dodson and Horrell 16+

I used if on my old horse who came back off loan looking rather thin and neglected- within no time he looked amazing and people were stunned when i said he was 36!

Also my friends vet commented on how good her old mare looked after not seeing her in a while and asked what she was doing different- she had swapped her feed to 16+ aswell!

Its lovely and smells nice too!
 
I would personally wait and see how your horse does on present management before opting for expensive veteran mixes. My 19 year old TB X looks fabulous and he's never had any special diet - just Top Spec feed balancer, Alfa-A lite (or soaked Alfalfa pellets), Cosequin and ad-lib forage in the winter . This year he wintered out without a rug and someone actually asked if he was a youngster as he looks so good. If you do need extra calories it's best to look at the energy content of for instance horse and pony cubes rather than automatically opting for pricey veteran feeds. Often you will find the energy content of a veteran mix is lower anyway.
 
i agree with ^^
mine was on a veteran feed, which was costing an arm and a leg. we switched him to pony nuts, chaff and speedibeet as the 16+ made him put on a little bit too much weight over the winter. he does get a veteran supplement and a joint supplement though
good luck
 
My horse will be 30 this year and was still being ridden until 3 years ago. She retired due to arthritis. I didn't move her on to veteran feeds until she needed it in her late 20s. She was out doing cross country and hound exercise in her 20's. I used to keep her out all year round until I moved to a yard where she had to be stabled at night a couple of years ago. She reallys struggled and was nearly put down this time last year as she was so stiff. So I moved her so she could live out all year round and she is only out with my other mare, so not being bullied, and she is loads better. Now canters up for her tea!! I think they tend to do better out as they can keep moving. I just make sure she is well rugged and has extra feed when the weather is bad.
 
Thanks for all your advice - will take all of it on board and so good to see so many veteran horses still living lovely lives! :)
 
I've cared for several veterans and I've never fed a veteran mix - my current oldie (now 36) was still doing sponsored rides at 33. He gets Allen & Page Calm & Condition, Topspec and a joint supplement, with Fibrebeet added in the winter. His understudy (16) just has Topspec Leisuretime feed balancer
 
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