CHALLENGE 2: FEED FOR GOOD FLESH BUT NOT FAT

In general your horse’s nutritional needs are not likely to change much as he ages, unless his activity level or health status does. “I refer to the old adage, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’” says Ralston. But that doesn’t mean you need not pay attention to how well his diet suits him; horses of any age need ready access to clean fresh water and salt---either free choice or a block---but you’ll also want to keep a close eye out for weight losses or gains, changes in condition and other signs that a dietary adjustment is needed. Of course you’ll want to consult your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist before making any major changes in your horse’s diet, but in the meantime consider the following options for your older horse:

• Easy-to-chew forages. The importance of forage in a horse’s diet doesn’t change as he ages, but his ability to chew coarse, fibrous hay or pasture grasses might. He may do better with a softer, more digestible mix.

To determine whether your hay is difficult for your horse to chew, Ralston recommends doing the “grab test”: Pick up a fistful. If the hay feels soft in your hand, it’s probably fairly digestible. If, however, you feel stems jabbing your palm, it may be time to reconsider what you’re feeding your older horse.

She recommends a good-quality grass mix hay for older horses. “If choking isn’t a problem, feed a grass mix hay that feels soft to the touch,” she says. “A little alfalfa or clover in the mix is OK,

but avoid feeding straight alfalfa, if possible. Senior horses may have trouble processing calcium, and an excess can be hard on the kidneys. Chopped forages are good, but some of those may not be digestible enough.” Soaking hay or chopped hays will make it easier to swallow, as some older horses are prone to choke.

If a horse is unable to eat hay, it’s probably time to switch to a complete senior feed, which incorporates forage into a pellet or cube. As always, consult your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist before making significant changes in your horse’s ration.

• Higher calorie concentrates. If your horse starts losing weight and your veterinarian determines the reason is simply an increased need for energy, adding or increasing a concentrate may help. Ralston suggests looking for senior rations that provide 12 percent protein, with limited calcium (less than 1.0 percent) and slightly increased phosphorus (0.3 to 0.5 percent) in the total ration. “Some senior feeds are designed to be fed without hay, but remember, grazing and munching on hay throughout the day fulfills an emotional need in your horse as well,” she says.

“If you choose one of these rations and you’re not feeding hay, look for senior feeds with fiber contents of at least 15 percent or more.”

• Supplement to fill in the gaps. If your horse has trouble digesting his feed, your veterinarian may recommend adding a vitamin and mineral supplement to his ration. In addition, your horse may benefit from supplements formulated to aid the digestive process itself. One simple option, says Ralston, is to top-dress a horse’s feed with two to four ounces of brewer’s yeast and up to one cup of vegetable oil daily, assuming his liver function is good.