Is there a downside to feeding a senior grain to a non-senior horse?

[Posting_Trot]

I’m just curious here. My horse has no apparent problems with the feed, in terms of her energy, her coat quality, etc.

Horse is a 9 year old Irish Draught mare, 16.3, solidly built (vet estimated weight at 1400 lbs). She is getting 2 qts of Poulin Premium Senior twice a day (4 qts. total per day). (I know that if I really want to know how much she’s getting I should weigh it…) Website for the grain is here: https://www.poulingrain.com/products/179

Right now, with little available pasture, she’s getting about 18 to 20 lbs per day of hay. The hay is mixed orchard grass-timothy. She’s also getting Elevate SE (area is selenium deficient), 2 oz. of Omega Horseshine, and Smartpak’s SmartCalm Ultra. And she gets about a cup of alfalfa cubes per day as well.

She’s ridden 4 x per week (in the winter sometimes down to 3x), for about 40 minutes to 1 hour per time, wtc, lower level dressage, low jumping, 1 of these weekly rides a trail ride.

Is the Senior grain the right choice for her? Poulin is the most easily available grain, and I think the reason why all of the horses in this small boarding barn are getting the Senior formula is because there are a couple of seniors and it’s just easier to deal with one grain.

[Ainsley688]

If she’s looks good and acts good, then I wouldn’t worry about it! I’ve been feeding my (now) 4 year old OTTB TC Senior since I got her last year, and she looks fabulous. Easy to digest, soaks well for mixing supplements/meds, and has the calorie content I need. It’s grain free, beet pulp based, and has very low NSC and Iron levels. Plus my seniors eat it too. LOL.

[seabreeze]

I had an equine nutritionist tell me that she likes senior feed for most horses. It’s usually high in fiber, low in sugar, and easily digestible. Aside from horses who shouldn’t have the high fat, it can be good for a wide variety of horses. It has worked well for all my horses over the past 15 years or so, since her recommendation. I haven’t had any horses with special nutritional needs, however.

[Guilherme]

Maybe.

You should “feed to need.” Follow the Golden Rule of Equine Husbandry: Give the horse what it needs, when it needs it, and in appropriate quantity and quality."

G.

[Pennywell_Bay]

I feed senior, with the caveat that the ones that do NOT need the minimal fees requirement get a vitamin/mineral supplement. But that’s with non senior feed, as well.

[MissAriel]

@Guilherme

Maybe.

You should “feed to need.” Follow the Golden Rule of Equine Husbandry: Give the horse what it needs, when it needs it, and in appropriate quantity and quality."

G.

For me the downside would be my air fern would blow up like a balloon.

We have about half of the horses in our barn on some amount of senior. Some are older, but some just need some more calories and the senior does a good job without making them nuts.

[Guilherme]

@MissAriel

For me the downside would be my air fern would blow up like a balloon.

We have about half of the horses in our barn on some amount of senior. Some are older, but some just need some more calories and the senior does a good job without making them nuts.

Maybe the primary downside is spending a lot of money that you don’t NEED to spend. A dollar spent on a non-need is a dollar you don’t have to spend on a need.

If your pockets are deep this might not be an issue; it they are not then you do your horse no favors ensuring you won’t have the funds to treat a problem if a problem arises.

G.

[Showbizz]

All of my horses that get grain get TC Sr.

[Laurierace]

Not for most adult horses, it really is an ideal feed.

[lorilu]

@Pennywell Bay

I feed senior, with the caveat that the ones that do NOT need the minimal fees requirement get a vitamin/mineral supplement. But that’s with non senior feed, as well.

THis. Because Sr feeds are a “complete” feed, full of fiber, you are expected to feed lots of it to get the required nutrients. One exception is Purina’s Active Senior, which is not a “complete” feed - you are expected to also feed hay or other fiber.

My old horse won’t eat the quantity of complete senior feeds so she get the Purina product. Because I know nutrient absorption is reduced in senior horses, she also get a half ration of Seminole Ration Balancer, meant for horses that are easy keepers and don’t get a full ration of any feed…

[Pennywell_Bay]

@lorilu

THis. Because Sr feeds are a “complete” feed, full of fiber, you are expected to feed lots of it to get the required nutrients. One exception is Purina’s Active Senior, which is not a “complete” feed - you are expected to also feed hay or other fiber.

My old horse won’t eat the quantity of complete senior feeds so she get the Purina product. Because I know nutrient absorption is reduced in senior horses, she also get a half ration of Seminole Ration Balancer, meant for horses that are easy keepers and don’t get a full ration of any feed…

Thanks- that was much more eloquent and factual than mine My brain is fried.

[Posting_Trot]

Thanks for all the input! I appreciate your thoughts and experiences. My curiosity is satisfied, and I won’t worry about her eating senior food!

[Palm_Beach]

@Posting Trot

Thanks for all the input! I appreciate your thoughts and experiences. My curiosity is satisfied, and I won’t worry about her eating senior food!

You need to read the feeding instructions on the bag, and make sure your 4 quarts per day meet the minimum recommended amount.

[Mk2002]

I gave my horse some senior grain for a while because it helped him maintain weight and it also had some molasses so I didnt have to wet my grain when I wanted to add supplements or medicine if he needed it. He was a 14 yr old Dutch warmblood gelding.