Resources on the care of older horses

[TheOldTrout]

My mare is now 24 years old, still in light work and the vet who tested her for Cushings the other week said she was looking good (Cushings test came back negative).
I'm still wondering about sources of information on how to care for older horses, I'd read about the longer (15 minute) warm up in walk when riding, was wondering about other things like good feed, any recommended supplements, recommended books or websites on care of the older horse. She lives out 24 hours in spring / summer / autumn, comes in at night in winter.

 

[Highmileagecob]

It's a minefield, and there is conflicting advice out there. I have a 28yo and my friend has a 25yo. Her cob has already had extensive dental work and teeth removed, whilst mine is just getting to that stage. Digestive upsets, loss of condition, quidding and choke all point to impaired dentals and soaked chopped food needs to be introduced to keep them chewing. Watch for them slowing down too. Being happy to walk round the hack and pass on the trot canter places. Having dog walkers say that your horse looks tired, when you thought he was ok (guilty as charged). A roughy toughy never needs a rug may start to feel the cold. Keeping the oldie in good health is a learning curve. It is labour intensive, and as dietary requirements change, expensive. But I wouldn't trade him for all the tea in China. Keep posting on here, there are loads of options and good advice offered.

 

[HashRouge]

I've just been making it up as I go along! We've done very well with Veteran Vitality and I would also say, don't underestimate the power of a good rug to keep them warm. Warmer joints definitely do better in colder weather. Regular dental treatment, as teeth can definitely be a challenge in older horses. If your horse starts to look stiff, definitely talk to the vet and consider danilon to keep them comfortable. I've also been trying a joint supplement from Natural Horse Supplies and I don't know if it is just coincidence, but she definitely seems to be feeling fresh and feisty on it!

 

[Ratface]

Old Horse is 28, 29 next July. Still as silly as a sack, and not showing any signs of slowing down. I haven't been able to ride him since February last year, due to chronic illness, but he's good at exercising himself, by playing silly horse games in the field, and annoying whomsoever is bringing him in by jogging sideways and doing fly bucks.
When I was brewing the illness, he was much less silly, and dialled right back on his paragliding spooks and dramatic sliding stops. We did almost everything in versions of walk, because I knew my balance and feel was going.
He still makes dragon-teeth faces at me when asked to get back (right back!) from the stable door when I first go in.
I miss riding him, but I'm privileged still to have him in my life. I enjoy grooming him and doing the carrot stretches that we have always done. If we're both still alive in the Spring, I'll have a go at leading him out again up the lane and into the school.

 

[SantaVera]

my old pony does well on chaff and a mash consisting of soaked unmollassed sugar beet, keyflow pink mash, oats and some micronised linseed added just before feeding. he hasnt many teeth left but is doing well on this regime. he chews at hay but drops most of it half eaten so he has grass all the time and chaff. if horses are fed oats they get 25% more food value out of the other food they are eating. i think oats are the key to keeping the weight on. they are also good in essential amino acids ,as is linseed. hes also rugged.

 

[AdorableAlice]

my old pony does well on chaff and a mash consisting of soaked unmollassed sugar beet, keyflow pink mash, oats and some micronised linseed added just before feeding. he hasnt many teeth left but is doing well on this regime. he chews at hay but drops most of it half eaten so he has grass all the time and chaff. if horses are fed oats they get 25% more food value out of the other food they are eating. i think oats are the key to keeping the weight on. they are also good in essential amino acids ,as is linseed. hes also rugged.

I am not the brightest sadly, can you expand on the 25% more food value from other feeds if oats in the diet please.

 

[SantaVera]

I am not the brightest sadly, can you expand on the 25% more food value from other feeds if oats in the diet please.

found the info in the feeding section of the forum but cant remember which thread it was on sadly. A french guy ,name beginning with T researched oats s a horse feed. he discovered that if fed oats the horse gets more nutrition out of the hay they were being fed too 25% more food value obtained from the hay then if hay was just fed alone. the findings were later verified in an independant experimant by a german guy. Sorry cant remember any more details. maybe someone else could enlighten us by linking to the relevant papers.

 

[Britestar]

Its trial and error.
I have : 30, 26, 25, 25 and 21.
The 30 and 1 x 25 are on alfalfa, gain balancer, sugar beet. Plus ad lib hay and haylage.
30 has a 100g rug on and she's happy. 25 has a 300g full neck on and would say he would die if it were anything less.
Other 25 has hardly any teeth and cushings so has soaked grass nuts, gain, veteran mix all soaked to a mash. Also ad lib forage. 300g rug as he's skinny.
26 is on vits and mins plus straw chaff and beet. 100g rug and the right side of lean - she is prob ems but well controlled.
21 had massive health issues 8 years ago and is micro managed.

They are all healthy and well, but each needs their own management. There are no hard fast rules.

 

[AdorableAlice]

found the info in the feeding section of the forum but cant remember which thread it was on sadly. A french guy ,name beginning with T researched oats s a horse feed. he discovered that if fed oats the horse gets more nutrition out of the hay they were being fed too 25% more food value obtained from the hay then if hay was just fed alone. the findings were later verified in an independant experimant by a german guy. Sorry cant remember any more details. maybe someone else could enlighten us by linking to the relevant papers.

Thank you, I do feed oats to my oldie as he loves them ! no idea they were so useful. He has them run through his veteran vitality, spillers senior mash and spillers conditioning mix, sugar beet, soaked grass nuts and equi jewel (not all at once before anyone falls off their perch) ! I keep his feeds varied to keep him interested and feed 4 times a day.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Ime, it differs from horse to horse. Be guided by the horse but as a general rule, keep the horse warm, keep the horse moving, if he stiffens up, speak to the vet about anti-inflammatories, keep up-to-date with the dentist and monitor condition carefully. Some older horses benefit from sloppy feed, if they have lost any teeth.

 

[Starzaan]

I’m happy to be a resource if you need, any time. Many years of running rehab yards, and lots of veteran experience. Happy to help however I can.

 

[TheOldTrout]

I’m happy to be a resource if you need, any time. Many years of running rehab yards, and lots of veteran experience. Happy to help however I can.

Thank you.

 

[TheOldTrout]

Thanks everybody. Just realised I forgot to say her teeth are checked regularly, last appointment dentist said she didn't need to see her for another year, next appointment is booked for next month.