The number of horses that continue to be fit and healthy well into old age has increased dramatically in recent years and good nutrition plays a key part in keeping them this way. Dodson & Horrell have been formulating and producing agricultural feeds for over 80 years, and with several qualified veterinarians and nutritionists on the team, it is certain your older equine will get the best quality feed to support them through their lives.
With age can come a multitude of problems such as weight loss, decreased joint mobility, poor dentition, and neurological issues. If your veteran begins to show signs of aging, additional support and a change in diet should be considered.
Providing a higher calorie, higher protein diet can help maintain muscle mass and condition in your older horse. D&H Sixteen Plus range has been specifically formulated based on the nutritional requirements of older horses and is an ideal high calorie feed to help prevent weight loss or loss of condition. It has many other benefits such as Glucosamine and MSM for joint support, antioxidants to support immune health, and live yeast probiotic for additional hindgut support. Sixteen plus is highly palatable and can be dampened if your horse is struggling to chew.
Forage is important for all horses, but adequate fibre intake may be an issue for older horses that have poor dentition and struggle to chew. In these cases, it can become necessary to provide alternative sources of fibre that are easier for them to eat. Products such as KwikBeet, Classic Fibre Cubes, and Alfalfa, can make excellent full or partial hay replacers. Dodson & Horrell’s KwikBeet is highly digestible and contains a fibre source commonly known as a “super fibre”. It is very low in starch and sugar due to the processing it undergoes to extract the sugar from the beet before it is dried. It is very quick soaking (only 10 minutes) and is suitable for horses and ponies prone to laminitis. High Fibre Nuts are also a great product that can be included when making up a forage replacer. High Fibre Nuts are fully balanced, low in starch and sugar, and provide digestible fibre sources such as wheatfeed, oatfeed, soya hulls and unmolassed beet pulp, commonly referred to as “super-fibres”. Super fibres are highly digestible and have much higher energy/calorie levels than traditional fibre sources, making them a great and safe way to provide additional calories to maintain body condition. To make a forage replacer soak 600g per 100kg body weight of KwikBeet for at least ten minutes, then add 600g per 100kg body weight of Alfalfa and finally 600g per 100kg body weight of High Fibre Nuts.
It is equally important for horses that maintain their weight well to receive the correct diet to support their overall health. Dodson & Horrell’s Balancers are a great way to provide the vitamins, minerals, and quality protein older horses require in a low intake, low-calorie format; ideal for those that hold their weight well and don’t need much compound feed.
If your horse has specific dietary requirements not covered here, or you would like a diet recommendation that can support your horse or pony's ongoing wellbeing, please contact our Helpline on 01270 782 223 to speak to one of our expert nutritionists. Alternatively, you can use live chat on our website www.dodsonandhorrell.com
