February 2003

Does Your Older Horse Need A 'Senior' Feed?

Sometimes, yes. But, mostly, you're paying for the name 'senior,' and you still have to feed a source of long fiber.

If your senior holds his weight on only hay, all you may need is a good vitamin-mineral supplement.

It wasn't too long ago that a horse was considered over the hill at age 10. But now, better health care and preventative medicine have greatly extended a horse's useful life, and many horses work into their 20s, even longer. Not surprisingly, manufacturers have stepped up to the plate with products that target this growing population of older horses.

And it's more than supplements and arthritis remedies. Now you'll find specialized feeds for older horses right next to the bags for pregnant mares, performance horses and growing horses. The questions for you to decide are whether or not that feed is the best one for your seasoned senior and whether that…