When to feed senior feed(Pic)

babycakes · 09-03-2006, 07:08 PM

One of my horses turned 25 this year and I was wondering if it is necessary for older horses to be on a senior feed?

He has absolutley no issue keeping weight on, he looks great for his age and is fed pellets. About 1/2 coffee can in the summer and about a whole in the winter. He also gets joint supplements and plenty of hay. And his teeth are good

I asked my vet this question in the spring and his response was if it's not broken don't try to fix it. He said that his weight was good and he didn't need it. Of course I'll be asking him the same question in the fall, but I wanted to get your opinions also.

cook1745 · 09-03-2006, 07:17 PM

Can you post any pictures? I really would depend on how he looks.

Thunderz Gurlz · 09-03-2006, 07:28 PM

I have a 24 yr old hackney I dont feed him senior he is close to 100 lbs OVER weight lol. he doesnt get grained at all (He gets grained in the winter not the summer)

Pony express · 09-03-2006, 07:48 PM

My horse is 32 years old and I have been feeding him senior feed for a while. He would always get really skinny in the winter and fill out nice in the summer. Last year after taking the suggestion of the horsetopia crew, I put him on shredded beet pulp, corn oil and senior feed. He was great, then this summer when I stopped giving him as much he dropped weight quickly. I tried the grain I got for my mare and he quickly filled out. I have been giving him that since and he has put back on all his weight and it has beet pulp in it. It is called Triple Crown Complete Advantage. I do not have to add the other stuff to it, just give him that. He looks great for his age!

divinemisselle · 09-03-2006, 07:59 PM

I'm going to err on the side with your vet. If it isn't broke don't fix it.

Orchid · 09-03-2006, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by divinemisselle

I'm going to err on the side with your vet. If it isn't broke don't fix it.

Yep, me too!

Seanachie · 09-03-2006, 10:09 PM

...what she said!

horses19201 · 09-03-2006, 10:18 PM

Just agreeing

pstepp · 09-03-2006, 10:25 PM

Following along and also agreeing!!

crittermom · 09-03-2006, 10:37 PM

My gelding was on senior feed for about the last 3 or 4 years of his life. The reason I put him on those rations was due to the fact he had trouble with some of the coarser grass hay and I wanted him to get the complete package with all its nutrition. It doesn't sound like your horse needs this yet. I would wait and keep watching.

babycakes · 09-04-2006, 01:28 AM

Thanks for the advice. I do completely trust the opinion of my vet, and did feel the same, but I'm also always worried about the weight of my horses, especially this guy.

Here is a picture of Rizzy all dirty, that I took on Friday.

beckyp · 09-04-2006, 02:13 AM

IMO he looks good! But like others trust your vet.

cook1745 · 09-04-2006, 07:01 AM

wow he actually looks a little over weight

He is just fine. I would have never quessed he was even close to that age. He is gorgeous.

Drafty · 09-04-2006, 07:18 AM

He looks very good! Keep up the great work!

Faceman · 09-04-2006, 07:22 AM

Personally, I think this whole thread is a plot to show us how good shape your 25 year old is in...

Heck, he is in better shape than most 10 year olds. I wouldn't change a thing untill he starts dropping weight - if he ever does...

pstepp · 09-04-2006, 10:45 AM

I agree with Face...you are just showing off!

And from the looks of him you have every right to do so!!!! He looks amazing!!

farmergal · 09-05-2006, 08:39 AM

Well I only hope my horse looks that good when he gets to be that age.

babycakes · 09-05-2006, 11:30 PM

Thanks for the input everyone, and yea I guess he could stand to loose a few pounds!

But I'm so scared that if he looses weight I won't be able to get him to put it back on, so I guess he'll just have to stay a little overweight, poor poor boy

NChase · 09-06-2006, 07:06 AM

I think your horse looks fantastic! If he looks that good at his age, I wouldn't change a thing that you're doing.

On the other hand, my vet says that any horse that is done growing can be fed senior feed, if it needs something easily digestible.

Two of my mares (age 9 and 11) had a hard time putting weight on when I first got them, so my vet had me switch them to senior feed and now they're doing great. One of them likes her senior feed so much, she won't even eat any sweet feed if you offer her some!

--Nancy

Mule Fool · 09-06-2006, 07:51 AM

Boy he just looks great. I'd have never guessed he was anywhere close to that. I don't think it would hurt to feed senior, but like the others said why change things when it's obviously working so well as it is.

09-03-2006, 07:08 PM
babycakes Coming two Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,586	When to feed senior feed(Pic) One of my horses turned 25 this year and I was wondering if it is necessary for older horses to be on a senior feed? He has absolutley no issue keeping weight on, he looks great for his age and is fed pellets. About 1/2 coffee can in the summer and about a whole in the winter. He also gets joint supplements and plenty of hay. And his teeth are good I asked my vet this question in the spring and his response was if it's not broken don't try to fix it. He said that his weight was good and he didn't need it. Of course I'll be asking him the same question in the fall, but I wanted to get your opinions also. __________________ Jena <3

09-03-2006, 07:17 PM
cook1745 Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 3,908	Can you post any pictures? I really would depend on how he looks.

09-03-2006, 07:28 PM
Thunderz Gurlz Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: South West Michigan Posts: 4,871	I have a 24 yr old hackney I dont feed him senior he is close to 100 lbs OVER weight lol. he doesnt get grained at all (He gets grained in the winter not the summer) __________________ "Don't be afraid to go after what you want to do and what you want to be. But don't be afraid to be willing to pay the price"

09-03-2006, 07:48 PM
Pony express Started Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 2,636	My horse is 32 years old and I have been feeding him senior feed for a while. He would always get really skinny in the winter and fill out nice in the summer. Last year after taking the suggestion of the horsetopia crew, I put him on shredded beet pulp, corn oil and senior feed. He was great, then this summer when I stopped giving him as much he dropped weight quickly. I tried the grain I got for my mare and he quickly filled out. I have been giving him that since and he has put back on all his weight and it has beet pulp in it. It is called Triple Crown Complete Advantage. I do not have to add the other stuff to it, just give him that. He looks great for his age! __________________ I don't regret the things I've done. I regret the things I didn't do when I had the chance.

09-03-2006, 07:59 PM
divinemisselle Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: At the bar... Posts: 8,359	I'm going to err on the side with your vet. If it isn't broke don't fix it. __________________ . Lead me not into temptation..... I can find it just fine on my own.....

09-03-2006, 10:09 PM
Seanachie Greenbroke Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,091	...what she said! __________________ Seánachie "I'll keep my guns, my religion, and my money - you can keep the change."

09-03-2006, 10:18 PM
horses19201 Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 683	Just agreeing __________________ Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup ~Maggie~

09-03-2006, 10:25 PM
pstepp Yearling Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bremen Ga Posts: 610	Following along and also agreeing!! __________________ Erin Jimdandy Peppy-\'06 AQHA Colt

09-03-2006, 10:37 PM
crittermom Greenbroke Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,228	My gelding was on senior feed for about the last 3 or 4 years of his life. The reason I put him on those rations was due to the fact he had trouble with some of the coarser grass hay and I wanted him to get the complete package with all its nutrition. It doesn't sound like your horse needs this yet. I would wait and keep watching. __________________ Peace!! I wish the people of the world could get along as well as the animals in my backyard.

09-04-2006, 01:28 AM
babycakes Coming two Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,586	Thanks for the advice. I do completely trust the opinion of my vet, and did feel the same, but I'm also always worried about the weight of my horses, especially this guy. Here is a picture of Rizzy all dirty, that I took on Friday. __________________ Jena <3

09-04-2006, 02:13 AM
beckyp Seasoned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: utica,ky Posts: 4,471	IMO he looks good! But like others trust your vet. __________________ If not at home try the barn.

09-04-2006, 07:01 AM
cook1745 Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 3,908	wow he actually looks a little over weight He is just fine. I would have never quessed he was even close to that age. He is gorgeous.

09-04-2006, 07:18 AM
Drafty Coming two Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,563	He looks very good! Keep up the great work! __________________ "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." - Mahatma Gandhi Breeding solid paints is like breeding spotless Appys - just plain wrong!

09-04-2006, 07:22 AM
Faceman Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arkansas Ozarks Posts: 7,421	Personally, I think this whole thread is a plot to show us how good shape your 25 year old is in... Heck, he is in better shape than most 10 year olds. I wouldn't change a thing untill he starts dropping weight - if he ever does...

09-04-2006, 10:45 AM
pstepp Yearling Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bremen Ga Posts: 610	I agree with Face...you are just showing off! And from the looks of him you have every right to do so!!!! He looks amazing!! __________________ Erin Jimdandy Peppy-\'06 AQHA Colt

09-05-2006, 08:39 AM
farmergal Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 6,063	Well I only hope my horse looks that good when he gets to be that age. __________________ Knowlege is out there, you just need to know where to look.

09-05-2006, 11:30 PM
babycakes Coming two Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,586	Thanks for the input everyone, and yea I guess he could stand to loose a few pounds! But I'm so scared that if he looses weight I won't be able to get him to put it back on, so I guess he'll just have to stay a little overweight, poor poor boy __________________ Jena <3

09-06-2006, 07:06 AM
NChase Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,125	I think your horse looks fantastic! If he looks that good at his age, I wouldn't change a thing that you're doing. On the other hand, my vet says that any horse that is done growing can be fed senior feed, if it needs something easily digestible. Two of my mares (age 9 and 11) had a hard time putting weight on when I first got them, so my vet had me switch them to senior feed and now they're doing great. One of them likes her senior feed so much, she won't even eat any sweet feed if you offer her some! --Nancy

09-06-2006, 07:51 AM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	Boy he just looks great. I'd have never guessed he was anywhere close to that. I don't think it would hurt to feed senior, but like the others said why change things when it's obviously working so well as it is.