When it comes to the care of my own horse, I continually stress that knowledge is just as important--if not more important--than just following the instructions of experts in the field. Knowing why you must keep giving your horse flax seed or vitamins might prevent you from skipping a day or two. Understanding your senior horse's need for consistent exercise will affect how regularly you take him for a walk.

Senior horses are creatures of habit, more so than their sprightly younger peers. In order to lower stress levels and keep a healthier, happier horse, consistent nutrition, exercise, and care are vital for the older equine.

As horses age, their immune systems are more sensitive to stress, and the horse grows more prone to colic and gastro-intestinal tract disturbances. To holistically care for these issues with an eye to prevention--rather than cure--regularity in the feed and hay is important. Changes in feed should be made gradually so that the horse’s body can adjust properly.

Senior horses also get into habits of drinking water at certain times, so constant access to water and consistent schedules help fight dehydration and kidney problems. In cold weather, water tank de-icers ensure a constant supply of water all day and night.

Hannah Evergreen, DVM, runs a holistic veterinary practice out of Monroe, Wash., and is certified in acupuncture and chiropractic care. This month, she agreed to share her expertise with us, emphasizing a senior horse's need for regular preventative care, with good nutrition and routine exercise.

Nutrition

Nutritional needs change as horses age. Younger horses need more carbohydrates as they grow and are used as athletes. Older horses have decreased calorie needs and are more sensitive to carbs. Also, dental diseases prevent horses from getting enough fat in their diets if they cannot grind their food properly. Rice bran, beet pulp, and pellet diets can help make up for the lack of nutrition if the horse cannot grind hay.

Dr. Evergreen recommends finding hay that has been tested with a nutritional analysis. Most dairy farmers have their hay tested before feeding it to their cows, but the majority of the horse community doesn’t request it. Looks can be deceiving, and brown hay can have more carbohydrates than greener hays.

Beware of too much of a good thing; overwhelming a senior horse with supplements can cause more harm than good. Selenium, which is deficient in the soil around the Northwest, is a necessary mineral but can cause poisoning if a horse is given more than one supplement with selenium doses. Have your vet review supplements yearly to make sure you have the balance right.

If your senior horse begins to lose weight, notify your vet right away. The cliché of the “old, skinny horse” doesn't have to be true for your equine friend. Old horses lose weight because of poor diet or problems with their teeth. With proper dental care and nutrition, that “old, skinny horse” can be an “old, healthy horse.”

Exercise

When older horses are deemed lame or unrideable because of their age, they are often forgotten. Even horses with lameness or mobility issues require activity. Hand walking, ponying, or turning horses out offers relief to joints and muscles that a stall, no matter how comfortable, just can't provide. Constant exercise also keeps the GI tract going and fights arthritis.

"Low-level, consistent exercise is therapeutic for senior horses," says Evergreen.

Chiropractic

As horses age, old injuries and problems catch up with them. Arthritis, tendon problems, and chronic degenerative changes affect many senior horses. Chiropractic work can help relieve pain throughout the body by loosening pinched nerves and restoring mobility in the spine.

The spine stiffens as a horse ages and nerves become unable to send stimuli to other systems of the body. Evergreen notes that regular adjustment keeps the entire body stimulated and healthy, not just the horse's back.

Chiropractic care used alongside acupuncture treatment provides muscle relief and will keep muscles from pulling back. Evergreen mixes both in her practice, using combined treatments such as massage and acupuncture after a tooth float to prevent joint strain to the jaw.

Acupuncture works well as a preventative therapy for senior horses. Other potential uses for the technique include treatment for painful conditions such as lameness and back problems, liver and kidney diseases, and increasing the appetite in horses with cancer. Evergreen recommends acupuncture every 1 to 3 months, depending on the horse’s condition.

Sticking to the Routine

Consistency and diligence are important. So is understanding why you do what you do for your horse.  Talk with your vet about your senior horse's needs; ask around at your horse club, stable, or riding group about other horse owners' experiences. Understanding the effects of various supplements and treatments in the long run can motivate you in the day to day care of your aging friend.

With the advances in veterinary, alternative, and preventative care, horses can now live much longer and maintain a high quality of life.  A part of that depends on you, so why not learn as much as you can so you and your horse can spend many more years together?