Prepare your senior horse for winter 

Our 5 top tips for winter preparation for senior horses (14 years +)

Keep mobility (joint health) in mind as movement has positive effects on digestion, muscle tone, circulation, healthy weight and more

• Cold, damp weather can exacerbate stiffness or arthritis in older horses
• Maintain regular gentle exercise (whether ridden or in hand) and daily turnout
  
• Keep a dry bed for comfort, deep bedding if on concrete
• Chat to us about the beneficial joint supplements included in our balancers or management options if stiffness worsens
  

Feed correctly for condition, digestion, workload and behaviour

• Some older horses find it difficult to maintain weight in winter, good doers struggle less, so feed according to your horses individual needs, starting with correct and quality forage provision
• When grazing accessibility reduces, increase the daily amount of quality forage as the base of the diet - 1.5% to 2% of bodyweight daily in dry matter (depending on their condition)
• Add a feed balancer to ensure consistent vitamin and mineral provision, plus additional supporting ingredients for healthy digestion, joint health, behaviour and more!
• Senior Balancer for good doers (whether still working or retired)
• Senior Plus for poorer doers/in harder work (whether still working or retired)
• For poorer doers of those still in harder work, consider additional fibre-rich feeds such as soaked beet pulp, hay replacers if chewing becomes difficult or oil for additional calorie provision

EXTRA TIP - Regularly check dental health (see more below), as worn or missing teeth can reduce your horse’s ability to chew effectively.

Maintain good dental health

• Dental health is directly linked to overall wellbeing
• Use a qualified equine dentist or specialist vet to check your senior horse’s teeth at least once a year, often every 6 months is preferred, especially if issues are found
• Uneven wear, sharp edges, or missing teeth can make chewing forage difficult, leading to weight loss or colic risks in winter

Check and adjust rugs regularly

• Senior horses can be more sensitive to the cold, but over-rugging can be just as uncomfortable for them as being under-rugged, utilsie BETA's useful guide below
• Assess your horse’s body condition, natural coat, and daily temperatures before deciding on which rug to choose
• Regularly check under rugs for rubbing, sores, or weight changes, as senior horses can lose condition quickly if not monitored

EXTRA TIP - Weigh tape (and record the results) weekly to ensure you can track weight loss/gain quickly, as you may not be able to see it so easily.

Hydration and access to water

• Dehydration is a hidden winter risk
• Horses may drink less when water is icy cold, increasing the risk of impaction colic
• Ensure constant access to clean, unfrozen water, insulating troughs and water buckets can help
• Soaking feeds or encouraging drinking with a splash of warm water or flavouring (like apple juice) are simple ways to boost intake
• Include salt in their feed daily (in all Blue Chip Feed Balancers) as this stimulates the thirst response encouraging them to drink
• Working harder? Add electrolytes (again, included in all Blue Chip Feed Balancers), to regulate fluid balance, supporting nerve and muscle function, and helping to maintain healthy digestion too!

DID YOU KNOW? Adequate hydration helps to keep the gut functioning properly. By encouraging horses to drink more lowers the risk of impaction colic, a common winter issue.