Veteran Horse Tips

veteran horse tips

Horses over 15 years old are classified as veterans.  As owners we need to make sure we are dealing with their changing needs.  With modern understanding, advances in medicine, management skills and advances in dietary knowledge many horses are living and even competing well into the 20s some even reaching their 30’s

As we get older our bodies change and the same can also be said for horses. A thicker coat and grey hairs are not the only change that we can expect. By the age of 20 a horses teeth can stop growing and they can get gaps this will effect their eating habits. The digestive system can also become less effective resulting in loss of weight and muscle definition.  Sometimes they can struggle with suppleness and mobility becoming stiff. Their immune system can also become less efficient along with circulation / heart and lung efficiency and they can become more prone to health issues like laminitis and cushings.

Just like many old people they can still have a very active mind but their body just is unable to keep up leading to frustration and depression.  By taking these issues into account we can change our management techniques to make their twilight years more enjoyable for them.

Mental stimulation is an important part of caring for our older horses. We can achieve this by giving them some variation within their day taking time out to give them a groom or taking them for a walk in hand like a dog or having toys in their paddock. Giving them a chance to show off and strut their stuff by taking them to in hand shows. Although you may have to reduce their work load some horses can continue and enjoy to be ridden well into there golden years as long as they are comfortable.

As our horses get older they can become stiff as their bodies struggle to provide them with the building blocks to help with joint health and mobility, as well as general wear and tear of a lifetime. A good joint supplement can benefit the horse by providing the key ingredients the body needs to help rebuild / repair the connective tissues and maintain joint fluids and anti-inflammatory properties to help with comfort. Plenty of turn out will also help to improve the circulation and prevent the joints from seizing up alleviating stiffness as well as also helping with respiration.

When selecting a horse feed, the veteran feeds are designed to take into account the older horses' digestive system and ability to absorb protein, phosphorus and fibre. Due to dental issues brought about by age horses can struggle to chew grass hay and haylage greatly reducing their fibre intake. Fibre is an essential part of a horses diet so this can be addressed by feeding a hay replacer and or soaked cubes to provide a mash.  This is best fed little and often to mimic natural feeding habits and to prevent prolonged exposure to acid in the gut. It is also important that their teeth are checked regularly by the vet or equine dentist.

As their immune system is less effective it is helpful to have regular health checks and to maintain a good worming programme.

Most importantly enjoy your time together.