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Skip Navigation LinksAll Horse Topics > Nutrition/Supplements > Feeding Old Horses


Articles ( * = TheHorse.com members only )Date Posted
Older Horses: Researcher Awarded Grant for Aging Study  *
Kristine Urschel, PhD, assistant professor in Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Kentucky, has been awarded a two-year $100,000 grant by the Morris Animal Foundation. Her study will be supervised by David Horohov, PhD, William Robert Mills Chair in Equine Immunology at the Gluck Equine Research Center, and she will be assisted by PhD student ... Read full story
 10/13/2009
Understanding Beet Pulp as an Equine Feed   *
Beet pulp has been a popular feed for horses for years without many people really knowing why. Beet pulp is a byproduct of the sugar beet industry and is predominant in the upper Midwest, Michigan, and California. Sugar beets look a lot like turnips that have been taking growth hormones--they are very large. The beets are grown and processed not ... Read full story
 9/7/2009
AAEP 2008: Tooth Characteristics and Feed Digestibility   *
Think floating a horse's teeth improves his feed digestion? Think again. At the 2008 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 6-10 in San Diego, Calif., a study showing that floating doesn't improve feed digestion was presented by James Carmalt, MA, VetMB, MVetSc, Dipl. ABVP, ACVS, associate professor of large animal surgery ... Read full story
 3/16/2009
Purina Wants to Hear About Your Senior Horse   *
Owners of senior horses and ponies have very special stories to tell. Now horse enthusiasts can share their stories with the rest of the country by entering the Purina Senior Horse Tales Contest online at equinesenior.com. "Purina receives many heart-warming stories from people who want to talk about their relationships and experiences with their ... Read full story
 2/26/2009
Older Horses Require Extra Care  *
Gray hair, stiff joints, poor teeth, and weight changes are not just signs of aging in humans; they afflict horses as well. Molly Nicodemus, MS, PhD, an associate professor of animal and dairy sciences at Mississippi State University, said horses often display noticeable signs of aging. Although they vary from horse to horse, these indicators can ... Read full story
 1/15/2009
Horse Health Tips for Extreme Cold Weather
This winter has been unusually cold in some areas, with temperatures well below freezing for many days in a row. This extreme cold weather can be particularly dangerous to animals that live outdoors. The Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital is reporting an increase in the number of animals presenting with starvation and problems related ... Read full story
 1/14/2009
Respecting Our Elders  *
Is 20 the new 10? How horses age has a lot to do with their luck in the genetic lottery, but factors such as nutrition, medical and dental care, and lifestyle can enhance--and even extend--their years. "Historically, horses were considered old when they reached their teens," says Joe Pagan, PhD, president of Kentucky Equine Research in Versailles, ... Read full story
 1/1/2009
Feeding Horses When Temperatures Drop  *
Winter presents a challenge to horse owners when it comes to feeding their horses. Low temperatures, harsh winds and rain, snow, and ice all contribute to the increasing nutrient requirements a horse has to keep themselves warm and maintain their body weight. Here are a few feeding tips to help horse owners keep their horses happy and healthy this ... Read full story
 11/30/2008
Caring for Older Horses: The Elmer Bandit Diet  *
After Elmer Bandit, a 37-year-old Half-Arabian, broke the record for lifetime competitive trail mileage last month, we were flooded with questions about Elmer's care and, specifically, what fuels the fire that keeps him going. As it turns out, feeding Elmer requires careful consideration and a serious time commitment. "Getting enough calories to ... Read full story
 11/23/2008
Beet Pulp Shortage Continues, Could Repeat   *
Plain shredded beet pulp, a source of digestible fiber for many horses, has been hard to come by this year for a number of East Coast horse owners. Some have wondered when supplies will replenish. While a temporary supply will be available soon, the long-term outlook on beet pulp availability isn't as clear. Burton Feed & Seed in Beaufort, S.C., ... Read full story
 11/14/2008
Straight to the Horse's Mouth  *
To prevent your horse from developing painful dental conditions have your veterinarian do a thorough oral exam every year. Although equine dentists cannot have their patients lie down in a reclining chair for easy access to those hard to reach molars, the field has progressed greatly in the past 20 years. It is now possible to perform a root canal ... Read full story
 10/12/2008
Senior Horse Nutrition  *
Choose the right diet for your aging horse to maximize his health and well-being. Your horse is of that certain age--a senior, a veteran, a golden gal or golden guy, a moldy oldie. The last rail's been cleared (or knocked down), the backstretch run, the pattern completed. Life's about cruisin' in the slow lane. Now that your horse is officially ... Read full story
 9/1/2008
Fiber in Hay: What's the Magic Number?   *
Horses evolved to eat a lot of fiber, spending up to 17 hours a day grazing various forage plants. But not all fiber is created equal, especially when it comes to hay. Hay carries a few challenges compared to living forages. One, compared to fresh forage, dry hay lacks the moisture needed to move fiber along the digestive tract. Unlimited access ... Read full story
 5/1/2008
Feeding Senior Horses  *
A horse that is kept healthy and disease-free in its younger years has the potential to live well into its 20s and 30s, stated David Pugh, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT, ACVN, of Fort Dodge Animal Health in his presentation on feeding the geriatric horse at the 2007 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 1-5 in Orlando, Fla. In the ... Read full story
 4/20/2008
Needing a Pick-Me-Up
Q: I have a 20-year-old Quarter Horse, and I have had trouble putting weight on her for the past few years. I have had her teeth done and a veterinarian has ruled out any major issues, such as cancer, system shutdown, etc. She has been vaccinated against the usual threats. Her eyes are still bright, but she has no energy. She also sleeps a lot. When ... Read full story
 12/1/2007
Feeds and Supplements for Older Horses  *
Equine nutritionists discuss a variety of feeds and feeding practices to help horses cope with the problems associated with growing old. As horses grow older, their nutrient needs change. This might be due to bad or missing teeth, changes in metabolism, or less efficient digestion. Some horses become thin, while others gain weight and become prone ... Read full story
 8/1/2007
AAEP 2006: Keep Old Horses Healthy   *
"How do we tell when a horse is aged?" asked Nancy Loving, DVM, who owns Loving Equine Clinic in Boulder, Colo., at the recent Healthy Horses Workshop for horse owners (held Dec. 2 in San Antonio, Texas, in conjunction with the 52nd annual American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention). "Most people think a horse is old once he's over 20 ... Read full story
 7/15/2007
Feed Needs of Older Horses   *
Our horses are living longer now than ever before. Improved parasite control, better nutrition, and advances in veterinary care combine to give us more days with our animals and improve the quality of their lives as they reach their third and even fourth decades. In fact, an estimated 20% of horses in the United States are over the age of 15. It's ... Read full story
 6/1/2005
Farnam/Purina Partner on New Feeding Program  *
On March 7, Farnam, known for its wide variety of equine products from equine dewormers to fly sprays to equipment, and Purina, one of the country's most recognized and respected manufacturers of animal feeds, announced they had become partners in the manufacturing and promotion of a new, premium line of horse feeds and supplements. Platform horse ... Read full story
 3/8/2005
Old Horse Care and Feeding   *
Of the 5.32 million horses and ponies in the United States, 400,000 (over 7.5%) are 20 years or older and considered geriatric, according to Frank Andrews, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM. About 50 horse owners convened at the University of Tennessee's (UT) College of Veterinary Medicine on Jan. 31, 2004, to attend a seminar highlighting techniques for managing ... Read full story
 4/1/2004
AAEP Wrap-Up: Nutrition  *
Geriatric Nutrition David Pugh, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT, ACVN, of Auburn University, spoke at the AAEP's Horseman's Day on Geriatric Nutrition. He said a geriatric is a horse over 20 years of age. "Just like us when we age, horses have problems," said Pugh. "Horses' intestines, eyes, and so on wear out. Because of the care people are providing, the ... Read full story
 3/1/2004
AAEP 2003: Geriatric Nutrition  *
David Pugh, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT, ACVN, a professor at Auburn University, spoke at the AAEP’s Horseman’s Day on Geriatric Nutrition. He said a geriatric is a horse over 20 years of age. “Just like us when we age, horses have problems,” said Pugh. “Horses’ intestines, eyes, and so on wear out. Because of the care people are providing, the potential exists ... Read full story
 2/3/2004
The Role of Antioxidants   *
Oxidation is a process the body uses for normal energy production and immune function. This is part of the process that enables the body to transform nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into energy. During oxidation (the "burning" of fuels), a few unstable oxygen molecules called free radicals or reactive oxygen species are formed. ... Read full story
 1/1/2004
Feeding The Older Horse   *
No doubt you've crossed paths with men and women in their 70s and 80s who are healthy, energetic, and active. I know of an 87-year-old woman who lifts weights at the gym twice weekly and volunteers each Wednesday to help familiarize new, fellow residents moving into the senior housing complex. By the same token, I know folks in their 50s and 60s whose ... Read full story
 11/1/2003
AAEP Convention: Nutrition  *
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN EQUINE NUTRITION A lot has happened in the field of equine nutrition research in the last five years. Ginger Rich, PhD, of Rich Equine Nutritional Consulting in Eads, Tenn.; and Leslie Breuer, PhD, of LH Breuer and Associates, updated veterinarians who attended the Current Concepts in Equine Nutrition in-depth session at ... Read full story
 3/1/2003
AAEP 2002: Feeding the Geriatric Horse  *
With more and more horses reaching geriatric status (over 20 years of age), it’s important to understand how their nutritional needs might change. Diets should be adjusted if necessary to help old-timers live long and healthy lives. David Pugh, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACT, Dipl. ACVN (nutrition), professor at Auburn University, presented “Feeding the Geriatric ... Read full story
 12/19/2002
Providing Care for Your Senior Horse  *
Not all that long ago, a horse in his teens was considered old. Today in many undeveloped countries, this is still considered to be the case. But in the sophisticated horse world, what is considered "old?" We consider a horse to be "aged" when he crosses over into his 20s. However, it's not just the human life span that has been lengthened by good ... Read full story
 8/1/2002
Conditioning the Older Horse  *
What are the effects of advancing years on athletic performance? Are there special considerations in the conditioning and general care of older horses? Is regular exercise beneficial for older horses or, conversely, does the extra wear and tear on joints, tendons, and ligaments only hasten development of crippling lameness problems? Nowadays, these ... Read full story
 3/1/2001
Long in the Tooth  *
Old age treats some horses better than others. Many continue to lead happy, healthy lives well into their 30s--a little slower, maybe, with some loss of muscle tone or a bit of a swayback, but otherwise in good flesh and good spirits until they're well past the Age of Majority. But we've all seen geriatric horses who suffer a debilitating decline. ... Read full story
 7/1/2000
Helping Your Horse through Its Golden Years  *
Fortunately for our nation's horse population, interest in equine geriatrics among veterinarians and researchers has been increasing. As a result, it has been found that not only do senior horses have different preventive care needs, but also that certain disease conditions become more common as horses age. Many of the conditions we associate with ... Read full story
 7/1/2000
Cuisine For The Golden Years
Is your horse old enough to vote? Then he's an equine senior citizen by some standards. These days that's not so rare; more and more horses are living into their 20s and 30s, and even beyond. This is a direct result of the improved level of veterinary care we've been able to provide for the last 30 years or so. In particular, the availability ... Read full story
 5/1/2000
Feeding The Geriatric Horse  *
Rusty's been your faithful companion for many years, and he never seemed to show any signs of getting older...until this past winter, that is. One morning, you looked at him and noticed that he had dropped some weight, and that he didn't demonstrate his usual enthusiasm for his breakfast. What grain he did sample, he tended to dribble out of the corners ... Read full story
 10/1/1998
Traveling With Older Horses  *
Traveling cross-country with a horse can be an ordeal under the best of circumstances. Add in the geriatric factor, and the potential for problems is immediately compounded. The aging process takes a toll on all horses, and with that war of attrition, the problem potential when traveling rises in disproportional fashion. If the older horse has weak ... Read full story
 10/1/1998
Older Horses at Work  *
The aging process takes its toll on all working horses, but the rate of attrition can vary significantly. In this, horses are similar to humans. We all have met the person who is barely past middle age and because of mental, emotional, or physical impairment or stress is ready for retirement. ANNE M. EBERHARDT Mr. Prospector, one of the ... Read full story
 10/1/1998
The Aging Equine  *
We've all heard the statistics about aging America--as the population of baby boomers rounds the curve of 40, the average age of our society is inching its way up. In recent years, horses have experienced a similar population shift. While 100 years ago they were primarily beasts of burden, seldom kept around once their most productive years were over, ... Read full story
 10/1/1998
He's Only as Old as He Feels  *
Advances in medicine and health care have boosted the average human life span from 45 years in the early 1900s to 72 or more years in the 1990s. Parallel advances in veterinary medicine, and horse owners' willingness to care for their horses beyond their utility, also have increased equine longevity. While most individuals are aware that humans are ... Read full story
 2/1/1997




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