Good quality grass hay and corn or a complete pelleted ration for mature
(not aged) horses are the feeds of choice. Avoid legumes (alfalfa and clover), wheat bran and beet pulp due to high calcium (legumes, beet pulp) or phosphorus (wheat bran) content.
What is the difference between senior horse feed and regular horse feed?
“A senior feed contains
lower levels of soluble carbohydrates
(e.g., sugar and starch) and higher fiber, allowing the gastrointestinal tract to perform better,” he says. A peek at the ingredient list will show highly digestible fiber sources such as beet pulp, soybean hulls, and alfalfa meal.
What can I feed my older horse to gain weight?
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.
Is senior feed good for all horses?
The best senior feeds will include
all the vitamins and minerals necessary for older horses to thrive
. They should be easy to chew and digest so that senior horses maintain a healthy weight. Not every senior feed is created equally and you should know all the facts before you pick one for your horse.
How much grain should I feed my senior horse?
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.
At what age do horses need senior feed?
At what age should a horse start on senior feed? A:
There’s no correct age to start using a senior feed
. Some horses never need a senior feed even into their late 20s, while others benefit from a senior feed in their early teen years.
What age horse is considered senior?
By age definition “senior” horse has been defined as
15+ years of age
. Due to improvements in veterinary care and nutrition, horse routinely live 25-30 years of age, some into their 40’s. It is not uncommon to see horses in late teens and twenties performing at high levels.
How do you fatten up a senior horse?
You can feed fat supplements at the manufacturer’s recommended amount based on your horse’s body weight and how much weight gain is needed. A number of high-fat senior feeds are on the market that have a
crude fat content of about 10%
. These tend to also include beet pulp as a fermentable fiber source.
What is the best way to fatten up a horse?
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.
How can I get my senior horse to gain weight?
- 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.
Can a horse founder on senior feed?
Horses can founder even though they are on a senior feed diet
. … Senior feeds are made with ingredients that are typically high quality and easy to eat; however, horses susceptible to founder may continue to have problems.
How much should I feed my senior horse?
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.
Can senior feed make a horse hot?
Certainly,
overfeeding calories can make some horses
“hot” due to giving them more energy than they need, which can result in overexuberance. In these cases, it’s a good idea to reduce the caloric intake.
Is beet pulp good for older horses?
Beet pulp is an excellent ingredient for complete horse feeds, where no hay or a limited amount of hay or pasture is fed, such as feeds for older horses or horses with respiratory problems such as heaves. … Beet pulp is an
excellent source of highly digestible fiber
and has a crude protein content of 7%.
What is a good senior horse feed?
Buckeye Nutrition Safe N’ Easy Complete Senior Horse
Feed – Best Value. … Though it’s low in protein, this formula is not lacking in fiber with a total of 22% crude fiber and 45% neutral detergent fiber to keep an aging horse’s digestive system in balance.
What supplements do senior horses need?
3) Antioxidants and immune support As horses age, many need supplemental antioxidants like
vitamins C and E
, along with other ingredients to support healthy tissue and normal immune health.
