- Fibre first
Regardless of age, fibre is the most important part of every horse’s diet and is vital for good digestive health. In the wild, horses would graze for up to 18 hours a day and it is our job as owners to replicate this near constant supply of fibre. Unfortunately as horse’s age their dental condition will naturally decline, often making it difficult for them to graze and chew hay efficiently. It is then necessary to provide alternative sources of fibre that can be easily chewed and digested by the veteran horse.
- Feed according to condition
Weight loss is a common problem that affects horses as they age and for this reason most specific veteran feeds, are high in calories to help older horses gain weight and maintain good condition. However, not all veteran horse lose weight, many that have been good doers all of their lives will remain so in their later years. For these horses and ponies, choosing a low calorie veteran feed will help to ensure they receive an age appropriate, nutritionally balanced diet without promoting unwanted weight gain.
- Take ailments into consideration
Sadly with advancing age comes the increased likelihood of medical issues, many of which can be exacerbated by the horse’s diet. For example: any horse with liver problems requires a low protein diet in order to reduce the strain placed on the already damaged organ. Similarly, horses and ponies prone to or at risk of laminitis, including Cushing’s sufferers should only be fed feeds that have very low starch and sugar levels of under 10% combined. Consequently, it is essential that all veterinary issues are taken into account to ensure that the diet is suitable for the horse as a whole and not just in relation to his age.
- Choose a feed low in starch and sugar
A good veteran feed will be one that is high in fibre and low in starch and sugar as this is more natural for the horse. Feeds which contain cereals and molasses will be higher in starch and sugar, which can not only cause fizzy and excitable behaviour, but can also make the horse more susceptible to developing laminitis or colic. Taking every step possible to prevent laminitis developing in the first place is far better than the long term management that is required to successfully control the condition once it has occurred.
- Add water
Veteran feeds should be palatable and easy to eat. A veteran horse with poor teeth is more at risk of suffering choke and colic, simply because he is not able to chew properly. A feed that soaks to form a soft, palatable mash is easy to eat and using warm water also releases more flavours from the feed, helping to tempt even the fussiest of feeders. Feeding a soaked feed will also increase a horse’s water consumption, something that is particularly useful during the winter months when many veterans can be reluctant to drink enough water.
