Elisha Dickinson, D.V.M.

With extra care and support hroses are living longer than ever.  There are many aspects of a senior horse's lifestyle that can and should be managed in order to facilitate their health and well-being.  The age at which an adult horse graduates into the geriatric category can be difficult to define depending on their previous health, activity level, and genetics.  However, once they enter their third decade, it is time to confront the obvious and become proactive.

Dental Care: All older horses will have some degree of dental pathology.  Therefore it is absolutely essential they continue to have, at minimum, annual dental exams.  Horses with known problematic teeth will often require more frequent dental work.  For those horses who have very little dental crown left, it is helpful to feed soaked pellets and finely chopped roughage (Dengi, for example).  Poor dentition can lead to choke, colic and weight loss.

Nutrition: As horses age, their ability to chew, digest, and absorb food diminishes.  Consequently, it is encouraged to feed a highly digestible, complete pelleted feed.  These feeds are extruded and processed, which means they are practically pre-digested.  Most major feed suppliers offer a senior formula, which is designed to be fed as a complete feed, with or without hay.  These senior feeds are also designed to maintain a horse's weight, through high quality, easily digested protein.  Perhaps most importantly, ensure that your horse gets turned out to graze.  Grass is easily chewed, is highly digestible, and promotes a healthy gastrointestinal tract.  Avoid feeding only alfalfa hay as the high calcium content can be hazardous to kidneys.  Horse should be fed to condition.  If the horse as difficulty maintianing its weight, vegetable oil can be added to the feed as a readily available energy source.

Water consumption: All horses, in particular the seniors, require access to fresh water.  In the winter, it is particularly important to ensure the water source does not freeze.  Also, keep track of how much your horse is drinking.  Most horses should drink one and a half buckets (approximately 30L) of water per day during the Spring.  To encourage drinking, you can add salt to the feed or use salt blocks.  Most horses are more likely to drink lukewarm water.  Furthermore, pellets can be soaked to promote water intake.

Deworming: It is as important to deowrm the older horses in your barn as the younger ones.  First of all, it is necessary for the overall health and condition of the geriatric horse.  Parasite infestations can lead to a rough hair coat, poor body condition, lethargy, and colic.  Secondly, there is no point in deworming only some of the horses in your barn since those who are not dewormed will quickly re-infect those who are.

Foot care: Regular trimming of the hoof will promote soundness. For horses with musculoskeletal injuries or problematic feet, more care will be required.  The level of care will depend on the horse's activity level, type of terrain, and overall health.  It is advisable to have the senior horse's feet examined by a farrier at least four times per year.

Exercise/Activity: Senior horses require regular and consistent exercise routines.  It is important for both their physical and mental well-being.  Depending on the condition of your horse, this may include daily turn-out, leisurely trail rides, or light riding.

Illness: The possibility of physical illness rises as horses age.  More common conditions of concern in the geriatric horse include recurrent airway obstruction (heaves), metabolic disease (in particular Cushing's Disease), and musculoskeletal injury (laminitis, navicular disease, arthritis).  Each of these conditions is managemeable and treatable.  The most important step is recognizing there is a problem, and the contacting your veterinarinan.