Wealth of Community

by Karen Pickering


Check out the new format! This month Karen does her column in audiovisual format, offering photos of NWHS staff at community events while discussing the importance of knowing what's available locally. Click the video twice to activate.

"Wealth of Community"

*Online Exclusive!* Feeding the Senior Horse

Not all horses eat alike, so take the time to assess your equine senior's nutritional needs
by Dr. Stephen Duren and Dr. Tania Cubitt, Performance Horse Nutrition

The nutritional management of the senior horse is challenging as there are not set criteria that define old age or the 'senior' horse. The nutrient requirements of senior horses differ from other classes of horses because of the changes in metabolic and digestive efficiency that accompany the aging process. The first step to good nutrition for the senior horse is determining if it is 'senior.'

Rather than rely strictly on age, it is more important to determine if the horse is nutritionally senior. A horse that is nutritionally senior can no longer eat its accustomed diet and maintain proper body condition. The combination of age, physiological status and physical signs of aging will determine if a horse is nutritionally senior. Some common physical signs of aging that require nutrition management are loss of weight and decrease in body condition, loss of muscle mass over the top line, sway-backed appearance, and dental problems. Some senior horses also develop diseases such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Cushing’s, and kidney or liver dysfunction.

When it has been determined that a horse is indeed nutritionally senior, each horse must be evaluated and fed as an individual. The main goals of feeding programs for senior horses should be to maintain an optimal body condition and minimize the risks of nutrition-related disorders and diseases.

Generally, senior horses that are in good body condition are less active than their younger counterparts and only have maintenance energy requirements. However, if the horse has difficulty maintaining body weight, then a higher caloric diet is needed. Likewise, the protein and other nutrient requirements in senior horses of good body weight are similar to those of the maintenance animal. Horses that are underweight or have lost muscle mass require higher levels of protein and other nutrients.

Overall ability to digest in the senior is decreased, therefore highly digestible and available nutrients are critical. Water intake is especially critical in order to reduce constipation and impaction problems that are common in old horses.

Dental problems are a large issue in older horses. Horses that are missing teeth or have poor dentition must rely on alternate sources than pasture and hay as their ability to chew is limited. Forage products such as hay cubes, hay pellets and chopped forage can be used as substitute forage sources. Complete feeds that use high fiber byproducts such as beet pulp and soybean hulls can also be used as a quality forage source. These are often fed wet or in a mash or gruel form to minimize issues of choking associated with inability to properly chew.

Commercial feeds specifically designed for the senior horse are typically easy to chew and highly digestible. These feeds are either pelleted or extruded, and in severe cases they can be soaked and made into a mash to facilitate easier consumption. Senior horses should be offered small meals frequently throughout the day, and a single meal should not exceed five pounds.

The main point to remember when developing feeding programs for senior horses is that these animals should be treated as individual cases; feed programs should be optimized for the specific needs of each horse.

In Memory

Welcome to the new audiovisual version of The Lunge Line, Northwest Horse Source's monthly editor's column. No horses this month, but we have a feline spokesmodel!

The NWHS editor shares thoughts on senior pets.

The Easygoing Tennessee Walking Horse

A light horse breed founded in middle Tennessee, the Tennessee Walking Horse is a composite of Narragansett and Canadian Pacer, Standardbred, Thoroughbred, Morgan and American Saddlebred stock. Originally bred as a utility horse, this breed is an ideal mount for riders of all ages and levels of experience. The breed easily adapts to English or Western gear, and its calm, docile temperament combined with naturally smooth and easy gaits ensure the popularity of the Tennessee Walking Horse as the “world’s greatest show, trail, and pleasure horse.”

Tennessee Walking Horses generally range from 14.3 to 17 hands, weigh 900 to 1200 pounds and possess a definitive head with small, well placed ears. The horse has a long sloping shoulder, a long sloping hip, a fairly short back, and short strong coupling. The bottom line is longer than the top line, allowing for a long stride. The Tennessee Walking Horse performs three distinct gaits: the flat foot walk, running walk, and canter, with the running walk being an inherited, natural gait unique to this breed.

The running walk is an extra-smooth, gliding gait that is basically the same as the flat walk with a noticeable increase in speed. Proper form should never be sacrificed for excessive speed in a good running walk. As the speed increases, the horse oversteps the front track with the back by a distance of six to eighteen inches. The more "stride" the horse has, the better "walker" it is considered to be. It is this motion that gives the rider a feeling of gliding through the air as if propelled by some powerful but smooth-running machine.

Considering the breed’s easy ride, the companionship, and its dependability, Tennessee Walking Horse owners find that the satisfaction they receive far outweighs the price of ownership.

Information and photos courtesy of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association. For more information, visit www.twhbea.com.

Beyond the Track: Retraining the Thoroughbred from Racehorse to Riding Horse

by Anna Morgan Ford with Amber Heintzberger

Renowned for their amazing athleticism and unparalleled work ethic, and famed for their “great heart” and willingness to go the extra mile, off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) have proven to be the ultimate equine partner in a host of disciplines: dressage, eventing, hunter/jumper, trail riding—even barrel racing! Discover all you need to know to find the right OTTB and give him the solid educational foundation he needs to excel in a new career, whether as a highly trained competitor, pleasure mount, or companion animal.

“Beyond the Track by Anna Ford is breakthrough racehorse literature, concisely covering every facet of what to expect and how to get the most out of your off-the-track Thoroughbred, both mentally and physically. The book could also be called ‘OTTB Training for Dummies’ or ‘OTTB Training A–Z.’ I consider this book the ultimate in training manuals for anyone thinking about adopting an ex-racehorse.”
~Liz Harris, Executive Director, Thoroughbred Charities of America

*A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book goes to support the New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program

Trafalgar Square Books
http://www.horseandriderbooks.com/
TPB 264 pp · 218 color photosISBN: 978 1 57076 402 8