Commercial feeds specifically designed for the senior horse, such as HYGAIN TRU CARE® are easy to chew and highly digestible and in severe cases can be soaked and made into a mash to facilitate easier consumption by the horse.
Pure Meadow Mash is a high-fibre, low-sugar and low-starch hay replacer. The quick-soaking pellets form an easy to chew mash, which is perfect for older horses and those with poor dentition. It contains seven different herbs for improved palatability to help tempt even the fussiest of eaters.
A combination of Alfa-Beet, Grass Pellets and a High Fibre Cube/Mash can be the best senior horse feed options for for those who can't even manage to chew short chop fibres any more.
A typical ration for a 1000 lb horse might consist of free access to top quality hay, preferably a straight grass or grass/alfalfa mix or pasture, plus 2 to 8 lbs of a feed designed for old horses, plus free choice water and salt. Avoid straight alfalfa.
Ultium® Competition, Omolene® #200 and Omolene® #500 are also calorie-dense feeds that may be helpful to help an older horse gain weight when fed with appropriate good quality hay and/or pasture.
Lucerne and soymeal are excellent sources of good quality protein. As a rule of thumb, if a horse is eating grass and you are also feeding it, all the hay and chaff should be lucerne to make sure your horse is getting enough protein.
Linseed Mash is intended for horses and ponies of all ages and work levels. This mash is meant to help increase water intake and act as a carrier for other feeds and supplements.
“Grass hay is ideally the primary portion of the diet with at least 60% of the (horse's daily nutritional intake) as forage (hay and/or pasture). Some pastures are deficient in nutrients, and so a horse may need to be supplemented with ration balancer pellets to provide specific amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.”
Higher amounts of fat provide more calories for the senior horse and help combat weight loss. Fat is a concentrated source of calories, containing more than twice the calories per unit than carbohydrates, which make up the majority of calories found in grain and hay.
Adding highly digestible fibre sources such as sugar beet is beneficial for promoting weight gain in horses. Dengie Alfa-Beet is an ideal feed for underweight horses as it combines alfalfa with unmolassed sugar beet.
Research studies have shown that “Nutritionally Senior” horses require additional protein, phosphorus, and certain vitamins. Proper protein intake is particularly important in senior horses. Senior horses with inadequate protein intake will break down muscle tissue to provide essential protein for other body functions.
Linseed oil is the best option to use as it contains high levels of Omega 3, has good palatability, isn't too pricey and is suitable for a large range of horses and ponies. Grass is a good source of Omega 3, so horses who receive little or no turnout will certainly benefit from supplementation.
Alfa-Beet. A high-fibre feed combining alfalfa and unmolassed sugar beet, two sources of highly digestible fibre. Ideal for promoting weight gain and aiding hydration. Must be soaked before feeding to horses.
The bottom line is that a bran mash provided no more often than once a week is a good treat for your horse and may provide some benefit to the animal's intestinal tract, but daily supplementation should be avoided.
Pink Mash leads the way in advanced soaked fibre support for the digestive tract. When caring for horses and ponies we can disturb their natural biorhythmic patterns. Pink Mash was created to restore the natural, healthy functioning of the horses gut, despite the environmental challenges that can often occur.
Apples and carrots are traditional favorites. You can safely offer your horse raisins, grapes, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe or other melons, celery, pumpkin, and snow peas.
Grass – horses love grass. It's their natural food and great for their digestive system (although beware of your horse eating too much lush grass in spring as this can cause laminitis).
Generally, you can give a healthy, average-sized horse about two large carrots per day or two small handfuls of baby carrots. If your horse has a history of colic, founder, or a chronic condition like Cushing's disease, always ask your veterinarian before introducing treats to their diet.
There has been some talk about linseed being poisonous to horses in its raw form as they contain cyanide. Whilst it is true that linseeds are cyanogenic, the acidic nature of a horse's stomach destroys the possibility of large amounts of cyanide being produced.
Nutritionally they are the same, the only difference can be seen in the plant itself. The confusing comes from the two big English-speaking countries. In the UK, they distinguish between linseed and flax, while in the United States and Canada, they refer to both as flax.
Linseed must be carefully prepared as the raw seeds are poisonous. It must be cooked before feeding because it contains a chemical that, if fed uncooked, liberates the deadly poison cyanide. Soak the raw seeds overnight and then boil vigorously for a few minutes to kill off the poison.
What is the fastest way to put weight on a horse? High fat, high protein grain combined with a rich alfalfa hay can quickly put weight on a horse, if there is not an underlying medical condition.
One of the simplest and cheapest ways to add fat to your horse's diet is vegetable oil from the grocery store, which can be poured over his regular concentrate ration. Corn oil is palatable to most horses, but you can also use canola, peanut or any other vegetable oil your horse likes.
Weight loss is often the most visible sign that a horse has entered into old age. Whether it's due to dental problems, reduced digestive efficiency or inappropriate nutrition, horses over age 20 become less able to process and absorb the energy needed to keep them in full flesh.