Golden Oldies - Caring for Your Equine Senior Citizen

From the February 2014 issue of The Stable Magazine – www.thestablemagazine.com/february 2014

Is your equine friend reaching his golden years? Here’s how to keep him going strong well in his twilight years... 

Thanks to improvements in diet, parasite control, veterinary care and  management, horses are now living comfortably into their late twenties and thirties.

As your horse ages, his body undergoes many changes related to hormones, metabolism, and general efficiency of his body systems and functions.

Unfortunately, much of this is just due to the fact that the body isn’t meant to go forever - and after a lifetime of wear, all is not as it once was. The good news is that you can take steps to ensure that your horse is well cared for, happy and healthy throughout his golden years, simply by following a few easy steps, and by keeping up with regular health routines.

What is considered an ‘older’ or ‘senior’ horse?

Typically, a horse is said to be ‘aged’ when he reaches the age of twenty - with the average horse’s lifespan now estimated at around the 25-30 year mark. It is said that in the horse’s younger years, one horse year is equal to 3.5 human years, and in the older horse, a horse year is equal to about three human years. If your horse is 10, he’s 35 in human years. If he’s 20 - the human equivalent is 60 years of age! Above that? If so, let’s just say that he’s done well so far, so it’s up to you to make the rest of his life as enjoyable as all of the time he’s already spent with you.

You might take great care of your horse - but the fact is that his body is changing as he ages. Your management needs to adapt to his needs and change as he ages. This is even applicable to young horses, as wear and tear on the equine body is often cumulative - like wear and tear of the teeth, from past injuries, and even from infestation of parasites - like worms.

In short, there is much to be said for the implementation of a regular worming program, coupled with good nutrition, and dental checkups - not only for the senior horse, but for horses in all stages of life - from foals to oldies!

Along with outward signs of ageing, there are changes going on inside the body. The horses organs, including his heart, liver and kidneys become less efficient. His immune system isn’t as resilient as it once was, and his digestive system function is significantly diminished.

The horse’s bones become more brittle, joints and ligaments lose elasticity and flexibility, and recovery time from illness or injury is much longer than that of a young and healthy horse. These changes are very gradual and occur over a period of years. It is possible to manage these changes so that any problems that happen to crop up can be dealt with before they become severe.

There are many problems common to older horses, such as stiffness of joints, lameness, decreased mobility and weight loss, all of which have underlying causes. More serious problems can include hormone imbalance, infections, respiratory problems, digestive problems (such as colic and choke) and organ failure. The good news is that effective and efficient management can control many health issues of the older horse, and have him feeling comfortable and happy - as he should!

The senior horse and health care routines

Just as important for young horses, the senior horse relies on regular veterinary and farrier appointments to stay on top of the ageing process. Here’s a look at why these routines are imperative for the health of your senior equine...

Veterinary Care

Regular vet checkups can help to detect any small problems that may be present before they turn into big problems. As the horse ages, it is more important to have an annual or bi-annual checkup. Your vet can assess the general health of your horse, and note any changes that may have occurred since your horse’s last checkup.

You might like to schedule your horse’s annual checkup when he is due to be vaccinated. Allow plenty of time, and ask your vet any questions you may have regarding the care and management of your horse. You can also discuss any health concerns you might have.

Dental Care

Even though your horse’s teeth grow continually throughout his lifetime, by the time he reaches old age he will probably have worn them down quite a lot. Dental care is one of the most important aspects of care for the senior horse. As his digestive function isn’t what is used to be, the senior horse relies on his teeth to chew his feed and roughage so that the maximum amount of energy and nutrients can be absorbed. If his teeth are worn unevenly, have sharp points, are painful, infected - or missing - he will not get the maximum benefit of the hay and grain you are feeding him! If your horse is unable to chew effectively, he is also at a higher risk of suffering from bouts of both choke and colic. Some older horses may have a lot of difficulty chewing their feed, so you may also need to take a close look at his diet - more on that later.

Of course, your horse’s age isn’t just about a number. It’s about how old he looks and feels, and how well he has been cared for throughout his life. There are many outward signs of ageing that are visible from around the time your horse reaches his teenage years that slowly progress. Some signs of ageing you may recognise include loss of condition, loss of muscle, a ‘sway back’, hollow facial features, sagging skin, a drooping lower lip - and even grey hair!

Worming Routine

Your horse’s worming routine is just as important for the older horse as it is for the young! Worms can cause permanent damage to the intestines and digestive system - damage that can’t be repaired.  If a horse has suffered worm infestation regularly throughout his lifetime, chances are that there will be some damage by the time he reaches old age. For this reason, you should have a worming program implemented - and stick to it.

General Management

Not only is it important to consider health care issues, but also the daily general management and care of your older equine. Your senior horse should be checked daily - for any problems or injuries, new aches, stiffness, and general health. At the first sign of pain or discomfort, a vet checkup is a good idea. It’s important to keep a check on your horse’s health.

Next, his living arrangements should be carefully considered. Some owners tend to think that because their older horse no longer gallops around as he once did, that he should be stabled, or kept in a yard. This is definitely not generally beneficial to the older horse, as once fitness deteriorates and muscle condition is lost, it is harder for him to re-gain his strength. Older horses who are stabled can also suffer from weakness in the hindquarters and keeping them stabled and inactive will often exacerbate the problem, decreasing their mobility further. Ideally, the older horse should be kept active - be it from being turned out as much as possible, or being kept in light work if he is physically up to the task!

When riding older horses, it is best to ride little and often - and let the horse set the pace. He will let you know when he is uncomfortable, so be on the lookout for him tiring, stiffness, short stepping and general discomfort. If your horse has mild stiffness in his joints, regular light exercise (such as being led or ponied on a walk) can actually help to get joints moving again.

So it’s a great idea to keep your older equine out in the paddock - but you’ll need to make sure that his paddock is suitable for one living the good retired life. Is he turned out with a bunch of young and too playful horses? Is he too low in the pecking order? Some older horses lose their place in the herd hierarchy, and are sometimes pushed around by their herdmates. If your horse is being bullied, he may miss out on hay at feeding time, or room in the shelter during cold or windy winter nights.

Older horses are more likely to feel that cold (and the heat!) than younger horses, and should be checked to make sure they are not too warm in summer, or too cold in winter. If your older horse is not holding his weight, you will need to look at his diet, but also fitting him with a rug in the cooler periods. It is often said that ‘a rug is as good as a feed’ - and the added warmth will mean that your horse has more energy for other things - like staying active during the cold. If you do rug your horse, you should always keep a tab on his weight, as a rug and a thick winter coat can hide weight loss. Always check and feel your horse - and make sure he is not too warm underneath his rug.

Feeding The Older Horse

The older horse undoubtedly needs help in maintaining a healthy weight level, and it’s up to you to monitor his weight and condition to keep him in optimal health. More often than not, the older horse requires assistance keeping his weight on, although there are always exceptions to the rules, and some horses seem to thrive on little feed throughout their lives.

If your older horse is holding his weight, chances are that you’re feeding him well - just be aware that you might need to make some changes if he begins to go downhill. For the majority of older horses, they require more readily digestible feed than younger horses. As mentioned previously, the older horses’s teeth and his digestive system aren’t as efficient at gaining nutrients as they once were, so alternatives need to be arranged.

The horse needs to be able to chew his food thoroughly for all of the nutrients to be absorbed, so if your horse has difficulty eating, have his teeth checked. Signs that your horse may need his teeth done include dropping feed from his mouth, obvious discomfort - and whole undigested grains visible in his manure. Some older horses have difficulty chewing long stemmed or thick hay - one alternative is to feed more chaff as roughage, or to soak his hay for no more than five minutes before you feed him. Soaking hay also has the added benefit of removing dust particles. Always feed hay immediately if you do soak it, and if your horse doesn’t eat it all you will need to throw it out, as it will go mouldy. Your horse’s hard feed can undergo a similar treatment and be made into more of a slurry - wetting it down with water can make it softer, and easier for the horse to chew. Adding water to your horse’s feed is also a good way to ensure he is getting enough water. Some older horses do not drink enough water - particularly if it is very cold from the trough - and this can lead to digestive upsets in the form of colic from an impaction.

Many feed companies now offer senior horse pre-mixes that are specifically formulated to meet the needs of older equines. Often these feeds are formulated to contain correct levels of beneficial vitamins and minerals, the right amount of fats and protein - in an easily palatable and easily digested complete feed. Pre-mixed ‘complete’ feed for the healthy senior horse should be high in protein and fibre, easy for your horse to chew and swallow, clean, provide essential vitamins, and should contain high levels of roughage as well as necessary grains. Some feeds are now steam extruded or micronised - processes that break the grain down and make it more easily digested. When purchasing a pre-mix feed always read the label to make sure that the product is suitable for your horse. Your vet will be able to recommend a feed suitable for your horse or pony. Always follow the feeding guide on the bag, and always make changes to your horses diet slowly, over a period of weeks to avoid stomach upsets.

Your older horse may need a larger volume of feed than he required in his teenage years, sometimes up to 3% of his body weight daily. Feed should be given in small meals in regular intervals. This can also help to keep the horse interested in his feed, as older horses can sometimes lose their appetite. Monitoring your horse’s weight and altering his diet accordingly is very important - and tailoring his diet according to the level of activity he performs. Some older horses can be ridden in light work through their twenties!

Hormone problems, tumours, Cushing’s syndrome, arthritis and liver and kidney dysfunction can occur in older horses, and any health concerns you have should be discussed with your veterinarian. If these problems do occur, your horse may require a specialised diet, medical treatment or diet supplementation depending on his condition. Regular bloodwork can help to detect these problems early, and appropriate management can be implemented to ensure your horse continues living well into his golden years!

Thank you to The Stable Magazine for this article, which was originally published in their February 2014 issue. Check out The Stable Magazine online now for FREE. Read this article and many more at www.thestablemagazine.com