WHAT DO YOU FEED AN OLDER HOSRE?

Many older horses manage to eat the same type of feed as younger horses but because of a slightly reduced nutrient absorption in older horses, an extra 15-20 percent of energy and nutrients is usually required, depending on the horse’s ability to maintain a healthy weight. Changes in feed should be made with caution and over a long period of time. If the horse has problems chewing because of dental problems and/or temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (jaw joint dysfunction), suitable feeds to give the horse include soaked lucerne (alfalfa), beet pulp, oil, soaked concentrate pelleted feed, MASH and cooked linseed. It is important to adapt mineral and vitamin supplements to the horse’s forage feed – and to give it an adequate amount of vitamin E and selenium. As forage feed, a high-quality nutrient-rich early harvest hay or haylage is recommended.