Changing nutrition needs of the senior horse

[HappyHorsey]

We have a pony who’s somewhere in her mid-20s now. She’s always been an easy keeper but has lost a little condition this year. After speaking with our vet and checking on teeth, bloodwork, and fecals, it’s probably just due to age. She’s just not a “spring chicken” anymore!

As your horse aged, how did you manage changing nutrition needs? I’m wondering if I should increase her Triple Crown Senior, add a vitamin/mineral supplement, add a probiotic, or anything else that might be good for her as she gets older. What did you find worked for your senior horses to keep them happy and healthy?

[FraggleRock]

What is her current diet hay/feed in lbs?

[JB]

First thing I’d do is make sure you aren’t looking at Cushing’s, or early PPID.

we do need to know what she’s currently eating and how much. We know TC Sr, but how much? How much grass and/or hay?

How much does she weigh?

FECs - what’s been her dewormng the last 6-12 months- what and when?

Without that, it’s shots in the dark as far as suggestions. Recommendations will be different if you’re feeding the top range of TC Sr, than if you’re feeding the minimal amount.

[tazycat]

Can always add probiotics that does help. Maybe soak her senior feed makes easier to eat. I currently have a 30 plus year old. Feeding tc senior soaked 2 times a day. Just picked up at a horse sale 2 1/2 weeks ago. He’s gained 75 lbs since I got him.

[HappyHorsey]

She is still able to eat hay and munches on about 25 pounds per day. She gets about 1 pound of TC Senior per day. We can certainly increase the grain and make other adjustments if needed. But because she’s always eaten the same diet, I guess my question is more “when did you start needing to adjust your senior’s diet and what did you do?” Thank you all!

[JB]

At 25-ish, you have to assume that even if hay is being chewed (well enough) and swallowed, then “well enough” is not necessarily good enough, and even if it was, the ability to extract the nutrients out of it like she was 15 is diminished.

1lb of TC SR is way under-feeding it. If she’s 1000lb or more, she should be getting at least 4lb/day, and in her situation, probably more like 6 as a starting point. There’s no v/m supplement out there that’s going to provide the amount of quality protein, as well as other nutrients, than a good feed like TC Sr will.

It’s just about the lowest NSC feed you’ll find - maybe the lowest of the Sr feeds.

So at this point, you are definitely looking at adjustments (and I’d still get her tested for Cushing’s). The “what” is changing to a quality, low NSC Sr feed, or, as in your case, increasing how much is fed.

[luvmyhackney]

Has pony lost weight or muscle? If muscle loss, up the protein with a ration balancer and top dress with Triple Crown Sr. to keep her at a healthy weight. Once you have to add 4 or 5 lbs of senior to keep the weight on increase the senior and drop the ration balancer. How much does your pony weigh?

Once they are over a certain age and point, I just feed them what I can get them to eat. NSC be darned.

[Mango20]

Age 26 is when my pony started to lose condition, and when I started him on TC Senior. That made a big difference until he could no longer eat hay, then further adjustments were needed (first he’d do fine with TC Safe Starch Forage, then eventually couldn’t chew that either and moved to soaked beet pulp and hay pellets).

[Magicboy]

My 20 year old gelding hasn’t changed so far. He gets very little …about 2 lbs renew gold and some BOSS, Smartpak senior flex. 5 flakes of coastal hay over the day. He’s PRE and really an air fern. I think once they hit the twenties, you have to really watch them. Is your pony n work or retired? Makes a big difference.