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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 823
 
Location: East Texas | What are some of the best things to do to keep an older horse working and feeling good?
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 Jr. Detective
   
Location: Beggs, OK | Have a fantastic farrier that can keep him balanced and level, an equine dentist to keep his teeth in shape (we have our older horses checked every 6 months), feed with probiotics and a higher fat content, previcox when we are using them hard, and Surpass on knees and hocks for the weekend races. They take some extra care and effort to make sure that they feel their best, but if you get a good one they are worth their weight in gold for the experience that they possess. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Our old guy has a few teeth missing. He gets sr feed and if he starts dropping weight, I add soaked alfalfa cubes to his diet. I can also tell a difference when I feed hay out of the slow feeder box. Without it, he spits and poops wads of hay and loses weight. Being forced to take smaller bites helps him chew it better.
We also are timely on care of feet and teeth, and I blanket him if the temp gets below freezing or if we have a cold rain. He doesn't do well being kept up. He was 24 and half starved when we bought him, but has done well with a little TLC. |
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| Platinum CJ for joint care. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | my older mare gets her teeth checked regularly, good farrier, feed triple crown senior, alfalfa hay, vitabran and THE supplements. I keep her blanketed when cold because that seems like the fastest way she drops weight but has been doing better since I put her on THE Muscle Mass. I ice her legs after she works and put on THE ThiamOxide on her legs/joints. She also gets adequan and legend. But most importantly is listen to what your horse is telling you. The older ones will let you know when they are sore/stiff/having a bad day. Some days turn into easy days of work. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 823
Location: East Texas | She has been stalled for the last 5 years. Turning her out a little at a time so she can get used to grazing a little. She has been on previcox and a joint supplement. I was a little worried last night. I had her outside and blanketed, and it got below 20 degrees last night (cold for here and a big temp swing), but she was bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning when I went to feed. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | My horse was stalled basically her whole life and then when I bred her and she was out in pasture she felt amazing! Especially because she was old for still breeding. It did her joints wonders! She was moving like she did when she was 8. Love mares! They are just fantastic and resilient. I just had to work on keeping weight on because she moved around so much haha. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 823
Location: East Texas | All was going great. I had her in a separate lot from the other horses in a good, safe lot, and then...... I go out to feed yesterday evening and she had cut her fetlock nearly to the bone. So, made an after hours trip to the vet and he said stitches would not work. We wrapped it up and came on home. The cut does not seem to be bothering her, but it looked bad. How do horses find ways to get hurt? My daughter was super sad her new horse got hurt and extremely disappointed she will not get to race her this weekend. |
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | I like all the responses above... I will add Pentosan, and MSM |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | Nothing to add because I've always had the "young bucks" but she's a nice lookin ol' lady! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: lone star state | I agree with the above posts. Be vigilant in keeping them in shape. Dentals regularly. Shoeing and proper balancing. Previcox as needed. Injections by a good vet who wants to do right by the horse. Just get to know them so when they aren't their best you know it and can take measures to help them feel their best.
My daughter heads on a 23 year old. Wont let me attach a photo but you wouldn't believe he is as old as he is. Works more like a 13 year old! We do try to take care of him so he will last.
Edited by firewaterfuelsme 2014-01-08 10:44 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 2154
Location: USA | I have a 24 year old and a 30 year old. The 30 year old is just an ornament and pet. She has 5 teeth now. She gets trimmed every 6 weeks, dentist and vet done on a regular basis. She gets bloodwork done once a year also. She likes her feed mash but only in the summer. She gets dry senior in the winter. I've tried supplements and such but she will not eat them, so Iquit and finally decided to listen to her and so far it works. I did bring her and the others in when we had windchills in the negatives.
The 24 year old who is semi retired, still goes to races on occassion. She gets teeth, vet and feet done regularly. She is mildly arthritic. She gets previcox if racing. She also gets adequan at the beginning of each year. She does not get rode hard unless she is at a race. I occassionally take her on trail rides but mostly she is free lunged 3 days a week(weather permitting). That seems to make the biggest difference for her. Helps loosen her up and can tell a huge difference in her movement and attitude the first month of lungeing. This is the first year that she has been lunged year round and she truly loves it. She will trot beside you as you take her to the arena. That is her 'playtime'. She also gets bloodwork done each year as well. Also, when I take her to the vet for her shots, I also have them do a lameness exam and make sure we do not need to inject her joints. I haven't had to inject her in about 4 years now.
Edited by canrunnr 2014-01-08 11:32 AM
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| Keep teeth floated. As with us old folks they can get a bad tooth and can cause misery. This is especially important in older horses. |
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Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | Another thing that I thought of that we did with my old mare was to pony her instead of riding her to keep her fit. I liked to keep the weight off of her back and the pounding off of her legs and she could work more naturally. |
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