Tips for Caring For an Older Horse

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1. Give him some light but consistent work. He may not be able to complete workout routines for competitions, but he�s not ready to retire just yet either. Keep him at a reasonable fitness level and he�ll feel and perform like a younger horse. The worst thing you can do is let him get out of shape and then ride him hard some weekend when he hasn�t been ridden in months.

2. Don�t neglect the vet check-up even if your horse isn�t around many other horses anymore. Keep him up-to-date on vaccinations, like any horse, and make sure your vet begins looking for signs of arthritis or soundness issues. Sometimes cortisone shots given early can not only provide relief for aching joints, but can prevent further inflammation and stiffness later on.
Continued worm treatment is also important for the older horse. Horses more
than 20 years old may have intestinal scarring from worm damage that
occurred before modern larvicidal dewormers were available.

3. Consider a senior feed. Older horses do not absorb as many
nutrients from their food as younger horses. Couple that with worn-out,
missing or damaged teeth, and many older horses have difficulty
keeping weight on, especially through the winter months. Several senior
feeds on the market today offer alfalfa-based pellets that are easy for
older horses to chew, swallow and digest.

4. Consider feed supplements. If you�ve never used a feed supplement,
now may be the time. Talk to your veterinarian about what kind of
supplement might be best for your horse. Biotin is great for hooves and
coat. Other supplements can help with energy. Of course, glucosiamine
is the standard supplement to keep joints healthy and lubricated.