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The senior horse population is larger now than ever before, with many horses leading healthy lives into their 30s. This increase in older horses is primarily attributable to the focused efforts of veterinarians, nutritionists, and owners to improve understanding of the special needs of senior steeds.

Researchers like Joanne Ireland, B.V.M.S., M.R.C.V.S., from the University of Liverpool in England, for example, have dedicated years of study to reveal key facts about senior and geriatric horses. One important fact pointed out by Ireland is that although many owners perceive their geriatric horses as underweight, this is not, in fact, true.

In one of her many studies devoted to senior horses*, Ireland wrote, “Of the animals examined, 16% were underweight with body condition scores (BCS) <2/5, and 10% were overweight (BCS >3/5). This contrasted with the owner responses that reported 23% of the animals surveyed to be underweight and only 3% to be overweight.” Some countries have adopted a BCS system of 0-5, with 0 indicating emaciation and 5 signifying obesity.

“Many senior horses tend to lose muscling over the topline, causing the backbone to become more pronounced, which can seem as though they are losing weight; however, it is important for owners to appreciate that obesity in the equine population is as problematic as it is in humans,” warned Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a Kentucky Equine Research nutritionist.

She added, “It is essential to accurately estimate your horse’s body weight or body condition score to know if it is actually underweight or if it is losing weight.”

If weight loss is a real, rather than simply perceived, problem, what can owners do? Increasing the amount of roughage or adding oil to the diet are both viable solutions. Another option is to feed less…less roughage but more easily digestible feedstuffs, that is.

Researchers hypothesize that consistently providing high-quality forage needed to meet the dietary energy needs of senior horses can be a losing battle. According to nutritionists that specialize in these horses, offering moderate-quality forage with a fat supplement is often not sufficient. Even though horses are genetically wired to thrive off poor-quality feeds, this principle does not generally apply to senior horses.

To maximize nutrient intake in an aging horse, try the following:

  • Feed 1% of a high-quality forage daily (based on body weight).
  • Offer a complete feed specifically designed for senior horses with higher digestible fiber at a minimum of 0.5% body weight.
  • Feed a senior horse more frequently, at least three times daily.
  • Consult with a veterinarian or an equine nutritionist to ensure all the health and dietary needs of an older horse are being met.

“Also, separate older horses during feeding times if necessary. Older horses can get pushed away during mealtimes when in a herd, and they are not generally as enthusiastic about food as they were in their younger days,” added Crandell.

*Ireland, J.L., C.M. McGowan, P.D. Clegg, et al. 2012. A survey of health care and disease in geriatric horses aged 30 years or older. The Veterinary Journal. 192:57-64.

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