Question

My Thoroughbred/Percheron mare is 22 years old. She is usually turned out in our southwestern Michigan pasture 24/7 unless the weather is truly awful. She doesn't get much exercise anymore, except I occasionally longe her. I feed her about 1.5 cups of senior feed twice a day as well as an occasional flake of hay if she's inside overnight. Would you recommend any vitamins or supplements for her? Thanks for your thoughts.

Answer

Most senior horse feeds are meant to be fed at rates much higher than 3 cups per day. When fed under the recommended feeding rates, horses do not receive the protein, vitamins, and minerals they require for optimal health. Some horses do not need the calories provided in a recommended minimum serving, so there are a few options to consider.

A ration balancer would be more appropriate for your mare. These feeds are meant to be fed at 1-2 lb (0.45-0.9 kg) per day. Ration balancers typically contain concentrated protein, vitamins and minerals to provide necessary nutrients in a much lower feeding rate than a traditional concentrate feed or a complete senior feed. An example of a ration balancer would be All-Phase.

Another option is to use a vitamin and mineral supplement, which provides an even more concentrated source of vitamins and minerals. The supplement could be added to the senior feed. It will help fill up any nutrient deficiencies from her mostly forage diet. You could use a supplement such as Micro-Max for this. To shore up any deficiencies, calculate the percentage of the recommended feeding rate you are not feeding, and use that percentage of Micro-Max. For example, if you are only feeding 20% of the recommended feeding rate, feeding 80% of a serving of Micro-Max (96 grams) would give your mare her daily requirements of vitamins and minerals.

One other type of supplement that you might want to consider for your mare is a joint supplement. Our recommendation would be KER-Flex, which contains glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and hyaluronic acid. These ingredients support joint integrity, reduce cartilage damage, and stimulate cartilage repair. It is suitable for all horses, but older horses can benefit from its use, as it can slow the progression of arthritis and help promote a more comfortable future. In Australia, look for Glucos-A-Flex.