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Feeding Old Horses

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Senior Horse Nutrition

Marcia King September 1, 2008

Base your senior horse’s diet on a full assessment of his health and management to help his well-being.

Fiber in Hay: What’s the Magic Number?

Christy M. West May 1, 2008

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 t

Needing a Pick-Me-Up

David Ramey, DVM December 1, 2007

Is my mare’s lack of energy due to the low weight? What are the other possible causes?

Feeds and Supplements for Older Horses

Heather Smith Thomas August 1, 2007

Equine nutritionists discuss a variety of feeds and feeding practices to help horses cope with problems.

“Old age need not be a burden,” said Loving. “Considering all the premium health care we can offer our horses today, there is no reason they shouldn’t be living into a ripe old age in the greatest of comfort.”

Feeding the Problem Horse (Book Excerpt)

Heather Smith Thomas March 8, 2006

Some horses present special challenges, such as being too thin, too fat, or sick. Some horses are finicky and are hard to keep weight on, especially when working. The first option is to increase the feed’s energy density by adding grain or fat to the

The Underweight Horse

Jennifer O. Bryant September 5, 2005

Managing and caring for a persistently underweight horse can be difficult and frustrating for the owner and/or caretaker.

Feed Needs of Older Horses

Michelle Anderson June 1, 2005

As our horses age and their bodies start to fail, we have to meet their changing nutritional needs.

Feeding the Problem Horse

Heather Smith Thomas October 19, 2004

Some horses present special challenges, such as being too thin, too fat, or sick. Some horses are finicky and are hard to keep weight on, especially when working.

AAEP 2002: Feeding the Geriatric Horse

Sarah Evers Conrad December 19, 2002

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,

Providing Care for Your Senior Horse

Nancy S. Loving, DVM August 1, 2002

Technology and advances in medicine have given us tools to keep our horses alive longer.

Conditioning the Older Horse

Ray Geor, BVSc, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM March 1, 2001

What are the effects of advancing years on athletic performance?

Long in the Tooth

Karen Briggs July 1, 2000

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

Helping Your Horse through Its Golden Years

Multiple Authors July 1, 2000

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

Feeding Older Horses: Cuisine For The Golden Years

Karen Briggs May 1, 2000

Horses which have been correctly fed all their lives are far more likely to live to a ripe old age.

Feeding The Geriatric Horse

Karen Briggs October 1, 1998

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