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Post by lwood92 on Dec 14, 2007 23:04:52 GMT -5
Since some have started discussing feeding in the "Riddle" thread, I thought we could start a discussion here about our different feeding programs. I am interested in what people do feed for their older horses. I have a 23 yo QH. Currently he is just on pasture with no grain. He has a wide variety of foliage to choose from. He is doing really well. I believe he is doing better now than when I had him in a smaller pasture with grain everyday and joint supplements, etc.
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Post by Michelle Clarke on Dec 16, 2007 20:21:47 GMT -5
Feeding the older horse is a weak area for me. There are so many issues that they can have - EMS (equine metabolic syndrome), founder, cushings, etc. Many are thyroid related problems and feeding is so important to make sure they are getting the right nutrients and more important maybe is making sure they are not getting the wrong stuff - like too many carbs, sugars and starches.
Many times you don't know the history on the horse and many times they are so overloaded with toxins and the liver is so taxed that those issues need to be addressed first...along with damage from worm loads etc.
On top of that you have a breed like the Kigers, that are not used to living on such rich feeds and processed stuff - plus vaccinations, plus deworming, plus living in enclosed environments....!
Ugh, my head is spinning just thinking about it!
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Post by fantasykiger on Dec 16, 2007 21:23:51 GMT -5
Oh the senior horse ..Like Michelle says they are very individual creatures and each have very differant feed schedules. I have a 26 yr old BLM Mustang mare that gets grass hay three flakes in AM & PM that is it, she is fat and happy. I have a Morgan mare the same age, she is on grass hay as well, three flakes AM & PM. But she is brought in for grain, she recieves 4 cups of Purina Ultium 1 scoop of horse Guard and 1 flex cookie. My daughters old Arab mare when she was in her 30's with no teeth ate 15 lbs of horse senior mixed with 5lbs of beet pulp soaked and made into a mash everyday along with free choice grass hay. The last year of the Arabs life at age 34 the hay was removed and another 5 lbs of horse senior added. The mare was also checked every 6 mths by the vet to be sure her feed schedule was proper and her health evaluated.
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Post by sonrisa98 on Jan 2, 2008 1:03:56 GMT -5
Like in the last thread, I was talking about the LMF feeds and how they have the correct minerals and vit. for your horse in the Northwest. It has even cured horses that have cushing disease because they weren't getting what they needed in their diet. They also have a food for the aged toothless horse called LMF Senior. All there foods have a minimum amount you must feed to be productive to your horse. Like the easy keeper would eat the LMF Super supplement at 1#/1000# horse. It says its targeted for the easy keeper or over weight horse, its a complete equine supplement, low calories(low sugar and starch), balances calcium and phosphorus, complete trace minerals, ( you just provide the white salt), complements Northwest hay and pastures, supports bones and joint growth in late gestation mares, base mineral package for stables, alfalfa or grass formulas, no fillers or by products. Its 1#/1000# horse for easy keepers, pregnant mares and as a mineral/vit. balancer, if you use this one for leg and joint therapy you would feed 3# per 1000# horse. this is just one of there feeds. They have a showtime, development, primetime, performance, Gold, Taco, Senior and gentle balance. Gentle balance helps calm a hyper horse and is targeted for the weekend horse rider. I'm totally sold on all there food. Sonya
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Post by nrly on Jan 4, 2008 17:19:20 GMT -5
so many supplements out there.
nola
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Post by kigerfan on Jan 4, 2008 17:43:19 GMT -5
You're right, there are so many out there it's incredible. I do give Firefly a supplement with psyllium in it, she gets it once a month for a week and at her last vet visit, the vet heard no sand in her belly. That's been doing real well for her. She needs no suppliments that would put weight on her, weight is not a problem that she has. She's actually a very easy keeper. She started getting fat because the gelding next to her kept pushing his food to her. His tough had to be moved away from that fenceline so that he would eat his food rather than push it to her. I do want to further check into area specific supplements because I do want her to get everything she needs, just not more than she needs.
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