b'NUTRITION THE HORSE STAFF/CLAIR THUNES, PHDTheHorse.com/NutritionFeeding Equine EldersCommonly asked questions about diets for older horsesou wouldnt feed your 28-year-oldbattle metabolic disorders and dentalReady for Senior Feed?Y retired trail horse the way youd feeddisease, while others simply dont chew your daughters 8-year-old eventer.and digest food as efficiently as theyQ My horse will be 18 years old And you wouldnt provide your 20-year- once did.next year. At what age should a old dressage horse in light work the sameOur readers ask a lot of questionshorse start on senior feed?ration youd supply to one even just sevenabout this special population of equids.Theres no correct age to start using a se-to 10 years younger.So independent equine nutritionistnior feed. Some horses never need a senior Indeed, senior horses have uniqueClair Thunes, PhD, of Summit Equinefeed even into their late 20s, while others nutritional needs. Some have troubleNutrition, in Gilbert, Arizona, has an- benefit from one in their early teens.holding or gaining weight, someswered a few of the most common. If your older horse is struggling to maintain condition despite eating plenty of good-quality forage, you might consider adding a senior feed to his diet. I stronglyrecommend having your veterinarian assess your senior horse in this situation to rule out painful conditions or dental issues that could be causing weight loss. No dietary changes will be as effective as they otherwise might be if you dont also address these underlying problems.If your veterinarian has determined your horse has no latent issues, your senior horses digestive tract simply might not utilize the nutrients in his diet as effectively as it once did. While relatively little research looks specifically at seniors nutritional needs, what does exist sug-gests that in some cases senior horses might require slightly higher dietary protein, as well as trace minerals. When you look at commercial fortified senior feeds, youll find most utilize easily digestible sources of forage, such as beet pulp, and have slightly higher protein and trace mineral values than feeds designed for other adult horses at maintenance. Senior feeds are usually complete feeds, meaning they contain all the forage a horse needs and, therefore, are designed to be fed without hay. Which version you feed your horse depends on his specific needs and his ability to eat other forage sources. Make sure you feed the amount If your older horse is struggling to maintain condi- directed by the manufacturer, or your AMY K. DRAGOOtion despite eating plenty of good-quality forage,horse will likely miss key nutrients. you might consider adding a senior feed to his diet. If your senior horse can chew regular roughages and maintain condition on 26October 2019The Horse | TheHorse.com'