Posted 2020-08-19 4:37 PM Subject: What is start age of a senior horse?
Expert
Posts: 1409 Location: Oklahoma
I know there going to be variations. But I never really thought bout it til I been reading how many feed a senior feed, which I know a senior feed gets fed to lots of young horses. So just curious
Posted 2020-08-19 4:42 PM Subject: RE: What is start age of a senior horse?
Veteran
Posts: 125 Location: Rc
Now and days, 15 is the start of a senior horse (as I've heard).
Also, just because a horse is under 15 years old, doesn't mean they can't have a senior feed. Horses that struggle with weight (such as hard keepers) or rescue horses are usually put on senior feeds. In addition, a horse with teeth issues that struggle to break down other grains may benefit from senior feeds.
Posted 2020-08-19 7:19 PM Subject: RE: What is start age of a senior horse?
A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354 Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas
A senior horse to me is when they hit 18 to 19.. Horses now adays are fed so much better with all the great feeds and supplements out there so I think horses age way slower now then what they use too back 20 years ago. People are so much more savvy now adays about how to care for their horses.
Posted 2020-08-20 8:59 AM Subject: RE: What is start age of a senior horse?
Expert
Posts: 1515 Location: Illinois
I think 18+ would be my opinion. I have 2 in their 20s and besides the white hairs coming in on their faces you'd never know they were older. And I've still never fed a senior feed, they don't even eat grain at all now. I think senior feed nowdays is used more for hard keepers/rescues than actual senior horses. It's usually full of molasses, which none of mine can have at all so I've never been interested to try it. One of them I did have to start checking dental on 2x a year when he hit 20 but not the other. And they do move a little stiffer if I don't have them on joint support, but otherwise you'd look at them and think they were like 15. So I'd say around the 18+ mark becasue a lot of times they start needing maybe just a hair bit of extra care/maintence to keep them going just as strong