Winter is upon us and our senior horses may need some extra TLC to successfully handle the many conditions that winter brings.
Are you prepared to help your equine senior citizen?
So what is a senior horse? Some equine literature defines senior as any horse over 15 years of age, but I know lots of horses older than 15 that are very active, healthy and competitive in their respective sports. In general, I would say a horse is “senior” when you start to see changes in how the horse moves and how he eats (assuming you are maintaining proper dental care and exercise).
Horses are mammals just like us, so things we see in aging humans can also apply to horses. All our systems are affected as we age – vision, muscle and skeletal condition, digestion, dentition issues and diseases associated with aging.
Just like us, each horse can age differently. Some horses may show signs of aging in their mid teens, while others are going strong well in to their 20s and even 30s. We had one big Standarbred gelding who was going strong, still being driven, still being a wonderful companion for children right in to his late 20s. That big boy thrived right up until his untimely death due to colic at age 29.
So how can we help our older horses maintain a healthy lifestyle? A very important factor is movement. Regular exercise is necessary to maintain good muscle and skeletal health. There are a couple of factors to consider when exercising a senior horse – the first is to ensure your tack still fits your horse correctly. A saddle that used to be a perfect fit might need some adjustments to match the changing older body of the horse. Also, allow lots of time for warm-up and cool-down activities – it takes longer for older bones and muscles to get moving properly. Be aware of the activities you are doing with your older horse – his physical abilities might be reducing somewhat as he ages, he may not be able to do those really quick turns, fast takeoffs and quick stops like he used to in his youth.
My senior driving horse is still an awesome fellow to drive but he can’t do those quick, tight turns like he used to so I just don’t ask him to do that. I have to say he has gotten a little cranky in his old age – when we go for a drive and he thinks he has had enough, he will attempt to make an unplanned turn towards home or flip his rather generous bottom up in the air indicating his desire to head for home. It can be a little disconcerting for passengers, but a few “firm commands” from yours truly convinces him to let me make the decisions.
Regular body maintenance such as proper hoof care and dental become even more important for the senior horse. Your hoof care professional should take into consideration the limitations of a senior horse and do what they can to minimize how high they lift the feet and how long they are asking the horse to stand on three legs. Age related tooth problems could impact how your senior horse is able to eat, so it is important to insure there are no problems with the teeth.
Providing proper feed for senior horses is very important – good quality, dust free feed and hay will minimize issues with digestion and respiratory problems.
Sometimes older horses become more sensitive to temperature and weather extremes. The horse may require additional shelter and, in some cases, may require blanketing in extreme cold or damp conditions. It is not healthy to shut a senior horse indoors for extended periods of time, as movement is really the best think for maintaining aging joints. If you must keep your horse in a stall, ensure he gets lots of good turnout time to keep those muscles and joints limber and active.
Enjoy your senior horses – they are great teachers and will provide you many hours of equine enjoyment!
