Care for his teeth
Regular dentist check-ups are a priority for your horse and older horses benefit from these the most. After their first visit, your equine dental technician (EDT) will recommend an individual dental maintenance plan, with check-ups usually every six or nine months. “When a horse reaches a certain age, he can start to get gaps between his back teeth,” says Claire. “Because of the way a horse’s mouth is shaped, his teeth will be wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. This means that, when they chew, food can go into the gaps but can’t come out as easily. Older horses can then end up with a lot of food packed in between them, which can encourage bacteria to grow.” Your horse also needs to be able to utilise the energy you give him, so finding an easily digestible feed is key. “Check that what you’re giving him isn’t sharp and spiky, and that what he eats isn’t going to get stuck or cause him any pain,” says Claire. If your horse isn’t able to chew his food very well, then he misses out on the first parts of digestion. You can make his feeds softer by making them wetter.