By Dodson & Horrell Product Manager, Louise Scott BSc(Hons), MSc, RNutr
Horses are now staying active until later in life and living for longer. As horses age they can face additional challenges such as poor dentition, dropping condition and decreased joint mobility. Choosing the right nutrition is essential for supporting older horses through their twilight years.
As with any horse, it is important that good quality forage is the base of the diet for veteran horses. Horses require a minimum of 1.5% of their body weight in forage per day, on average, this equates to around 9kg of hay or 11.5kgs of haylage. In some instances, older horses may suffer from poor dentition, making it difficult for them to chew long forage such as hay or haylage. In these cases, it would be recommended to work with a nutritionist on a forage replacement diet, which would include other sources of fibre that are easier to chew. Dodson & Horrell High Fibre Nuts, Alfalfa Chaff & Kwikbeet would all be examples of feeds that can be included as part of a forage replacement diet.
As horses get older, their digestive system becomes less efficient so a lot of older horses need help to maintain their condition as they age. For these horses, using a conditioning veteran feed will offer the correct balance of nutrition with the necessary calories to support healthy condition. The Sixteen Plus range are conditioning feeds specifically designed for older horses. Available in mix and cube format, they are high in calories and quality protein to support healthy condition and topline in veteran horses. For horses needing a low starch and sugar alternative, Dodson & Horrell Cushcare Condition is calorie dense, being rich in oil but low in starch and sugar.
For good doer veterans keeping the diet simple is often the most effective option. Utilising a veteran specific vitamin and mineral supplement will ensure they have a balanced diet and the correct support as they age, without adding unnecessary calories. Dodson & Horrell Senior Daily Vitamins & Minerals provides a complete range of vitamins and minerals, key amino acids and targeted support supplements.
Choosing a specialist veteran feed with added supplements will provide elevated nutritional support and help to streamline feeding routines. All Dodson & Horrell veteran feeds are specially formulated to provide optimum support to older horses, so a full range of support supplements are included in all D&H veteran feeds. This includes digestive support in the form of pre and probiotics to support a healthy hindgut and promote feed efficiency, joint support to encourage suppleness, and immune support for general wellbeing. This targeted supplement package is designed to provide optimum nutritional support to help keep horses feeling well for longer.
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.
