At what age should a horse be fed senior feed?
15
As a general rule, senior feeds usually become appropriate for horses when they reach the age of 15. That said, however, it’s possible that a much younger horse with digestive and nutritional challenges will benefit from senior feed.
What can I feed my older horse to gain weight UK?
Adding Dengie’s Alfa-Beet or Grass Pellets to a hay replacer ration is an ideal way of softening it as well as providing extra calories for those horses that need to gain weight.
What do you feed a retired horse?
There are commercial feeds available specifically formulated to suit the older horse. It is extremely important that the best quality of forage (hay) is fed. It should be clean and dust-free, and a mix of meadow grasses rather than seed hay may prove more palatable for the older animal or those with digestive problems.
What makes senior horse feed different?
Senior feeds have higher crude fiber levels than regular horse feeds. These sources of fiber include beet pulp, rice bran, or alfalfa meal because they are easier for horses to digest. Senior feeds often have higher phosphorus levels as well as higher calcium than typical feeds.
Do retired horses need grain?
Unless your horse is a high performance athlete, grass and/or hay and an appropriate serving of a whole food supplement is plenty of nutrition for good health. The hardworking horse’s diet should be less than 25% grain to prevent colic.
How do you fatten up an old horse?
Consider adding a supplement
- Inexpensive and Easy: Vegetable Oil.
- Easy but Expensive: Top dress with a high-fat supplement to add more calories to your existing feeding program.
- Effective yet Time-Consuming: Add beet pulp or alfalfa pellets/cubes to your horse’s diet.
Why do old horses get skinny?
Older horses don’t have to become underweight horses. If senior equines begin to lose weight, there is usually a reason for the change such as dental inadequacy, gastrointestinal inefficiency, immune dysfunction, or the stresses associated with pain.
How much grain should a senior horse eat per day?
Because most senior feeds on the market today can be fed as a sole ration (ie 16-18 lbs. per day to a 1,200 lb. horse in light work) they have to be formulated in such a way that a horse eating this much of the feed won’t be overdoing the concentration of vitamins/minerals, etc.
Are Oats good for senior horses?
Yes – if your horse needs them! Of all the cereal grains (e.g. corn, barley, wheat, etc.) oats have the most appropriate nutritional profile for horses. They are an excellent source of calories, and have a better protein and amino acid profile than many other grains.
How much grain should I feed my senior horse?
Which is better for horses whole oats or rolled oats?
The horse has trouble chewing the hard seed coats (hulls) of the oats. In this case, soaking, steaming or cooking the oats for a few hours before feeding them out, or feeding crushed or steam-rolled oats is a better option than feeding whole oats.
What can I feed my old horse to gain weight?
How can I put weight on my elderly horse?
Adding Weight on Thin Senior Horses
- 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.