Question
I own a Missouri Fox Trotter named Ethel (20 years old, 14 hands). As far as her weight, I don’t think anyone would call her skinny, but I’d like to see her a pinch plumper. She has sparse pasture available during turnout (20 hours a day), but that’s supplemented with a round bale of coastal Bermudagrass hay. I swap feed every now and then, and right now she’s on a 13% all-livestock feed. Ethel never skips a trip to the trough, so appetite isn’t an issue. I am riding her more than ever, several times a week, even though the actual work isn’t that taxing—mostly walking and shuffling along in gait on some flat trails. It’s been very hot here, too, so she’s battling an upturn in workload and some weather-related, low-level stress. I understand that she might need a different diet to add weight now and to shore up her health as she ages. I am happy to make those changes if I know what they are. Ethel and I have been a team for nearly as long as she’s been alive, so I want to make her as comfortable as possible.
Answer
How much concentrate feed are you providing Ethel daily? General purpose livestock feeds may not provide optimal nutrients for horses, and feeding rates might be inappropriate for different classes of horses. Switching to a feed formulated specifically for horses and feeding it at the recommended rate ensures horses receive the appropriate nutrients. Sometimes, however, the recommended amount of feed overdelivers energy, causing a horse to become too heavy. In these cases, adding a ration balancer is a great way to provide quality protein to support muscle health as well as necessary vitamins and minerals for optimal well-being.
Another consideration based on her age and consumption of coastal Bermudagrass hay is to supplement with a higher quality forage, like alfalfa, in a processed form that would be easy for her to chew and digest. Alfalfa pellets or alfalfa/timothy pellets are a great supplement for older horses that need extra condition without having to significantly increase the amount of concentrate fed. During the hot months, you can offer the soaked hay pellets as a mash, which is a great way to provide additional salt and electrolytes to replace sweat losses.
Looking ahead to potential health troubles of aged horses is a good idea. As always, keep a knowledgeable veterinarian and farrier on speed dial for all regular maintenance (vaccinations, hoof trimming, shoeing) as well as emergencies (wounds, acute lameness, colic). Like all horses, aged horses benefit from routine dental care. Tending to teeth may be a service provided by your veterinarian. If not, seek a dental specialist. Some horses in their twenties have full dentition in good working order; others do not. As Ethel works her way through her twenties, she may have dental changes that necessitate dietary adjustment, so keep a close eye on her in the coming years.
