There isn't a particular birthday when every horse suddenly needs to be fed like a senior.
Some older horses remain fantastic doers well into their twenties. Others begin to struggle with condition, muscle or chewing much earlier.
That's why feeding an older horse should start with the individual in front of you – not simply the number on their passport.
Start With What Has Changed
If an older horse is maintaining an appropriate body condition and coping well on its existing diet, age alone doesn't necessarily mean the entire feeding programme needs to change.
But older horses should be monitored carefully for changes in:
• Bodyweight and body condition
• Muscle and topline
• Appetite
• Chewing
• Dropping partially chewed feed or forage
• General condition
• Ability to maintain weight through winter
Regular dental care is particularly important, and unexplained weight loss or difficulty chewing should be investigated rather than simply compensated for with a larger bucket.
Forage Remains the Foundation
As long as the horse can chew it comfortably and effectively, suitable forage should remain at the heart of the diet.
If dental changes mean the horse can no longer manage long-stem forage adequately, alternative fibre sources may be needed. This is an area where individual advice from your vet or a suitably qualified equine nutritionist is particularly valuable.
Keep the Bucket Fibre Focused
Where appropriate for the individual senior horse, a simple bucket might include:
• Suitable chaff
• An appropriate fibre compound mix or cubes
• Correctly prepared unmolassed sugar beet
Feeds may need to be soaked or otherwise adapted according to dental health and the manufacturer's instructions.
The aim is not simply to feed more because the horse is older. It's to adapt the ration according to what has actually changed.
Target the Needs of the Older Horse
Older horses may have different nutritional priorities depending on their condition, activity and general health.
HERCULES may be considered where targeted amino acid support is appropriate, particularly where maintaining muscle is a nutritional priority.
SUPER SOUND may form part of an older horse's joint nutritional support.
100% Vitality Tonic can also be incorporated where appropriate to the individual horse and its overall ration.
Again, not every senior horse needs every product.
The starting question should always be:
What does this horse actually need?
An Example Feeding Plan for a Senior Horse
For an older horse where these feeds are appropriate, a simple plan might look like:
Forage: suitable forage according to chewing ability, body condition and individual requirements.
Bucket feed: chaff + appropriate fibre compound mix/cubes + soaked unmolassed sugar beet.
Targeted nutritional support: 100% Vitality Tonic + SUPER SOUND + HERCULES where appropriate.
Ageing doesn't automatically require a complicated feeding programme.
Monitor the horse closely, respond to changes early and adapt its diet as its needs evolve.
Feed the horse in front of you – whatever age happens to be written on its passport.
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Important Feeding Note
This feeding plan is intended as a general guide only and isn't a personalised senior-horse diet or a substitute for veterinary advice. Older horses can develop dental, metabolic and other health issues that significantly affect their nutritional requirements.
Regular veterinary and dental checks are important. Unexplained weight loss, changes in appetite, difficulty chewing or swallowing, quidding, or significant changes in body condition should be discussed with your vet. Always follow feed manufacturers' instructions, introduce dietary changes gradually and seek advice from your vet or a suitably qualified equine nutritionist where individual dietary guidance is required.