Home > Feeding Recommendations > Feeding Older Horses

Feeds for Older Horses

Older horses lose some of the ability to absorb and utilize nutrients, so as a result it essential to provide them with high quality feedstuffs. On the other hand due to lower levels of activity, some older horses have a difficult time avoiding obesity. In most cases try to meet the horses needs without a great deal of grain. Individual cases need to be evaluated. Some typical cases are outlined below, with some possible feeds to fit the situation.

Example 1- An aged horse with poor teeth has trouble chewing on hay and is way too thin. The horse is ridden very lightly and not very often.

Solution - in season this horse will probably do better on pasture, particularly early growth pasture where the plants are tender and nutritious. Failing that the best situation is a high quality feed such as Phase lV, that has digestible fiber sources and generous levels of minerals and vitamins. Adding a pound of Flax Appeal / day adds calories as well as having some benefits for circulation and muscle soreness.

If the horse cannot handle any hay at all you may have to include a high fiber hay replacer such as Alfa Maize for some gut fill.

Amount to Feed
1/ Free choice pasture plus .5 to 1 pound Phase 4 / 100 lbs. of bodyweight
2/ 1- 1.5 lbs. hay replacer plus .5 to 1 lb. Phase 4 per 100 lbs. of bodyweight. 1 pound of FLAX APPEAL will do wonders for a horse like this.

Example 2 - A senior horse seems to get fatter each day, simply by breathing in the dust from a grain ration.

Solution - Good clean hay may be enough for this horse, or if the owner wishes to feed some grain, use a high fiber feed with generous levels of minerals and vitamins such as PHASE 4 in moderate amounts. If very little Phase lV is fed, include a vitamin/mineral supplement in the ration or a protein/mineral supplement such as All Phase 20.

Amount to Feed
F/C hay plus .25 to .5 lbs. Phase lV /100 lbs. bodyweight
F/C hay with 1-2 pounds of All Phase 20.

back to Feeding Recommendations