Instead, it will depend on several factors, including how good of shape the horse\u2019s teeth are in, how they\u2019re
\nholding body condition, and if they\u2019re able to eat a normal amount of hay (1.5-2% of their bodyweight daily)
\nI\u2019ve switched horses over to senior feed when they were around fifteen, while others made it into their
\ntwenties before I had to make that change.<\/p>\n
When choosing a senior feed for your horse, you\u2019ll want to take a look at several things. First,
\nyou\u2019ll need to see which ones are available in your area. Then, you\u2019ll want to compare all
\navailable senior feeds when it comes to ingredients, fiber, protein and non-structural
\ncarbohydrate (NSC) levels\u2014and probably price as well.<\/p>\n
Protein & Fiber<\/strong> NSC Level<\/strong> Unfortunately, the NSC level of the feed may not be shown on the bag. Instead, you\u2019ll have to Yes, senior feeds are pricier than many other types of feeds, but this is because they are often Instead, it will depend on several factors, including how good of shape the horse\u2019s teeth are in, how they\u2019re holding body condition, and if they\u2019re able to eat a normal amount of hay (1.5-2% of their bodyweight daily) I\u2019ve switched horses over to senior feed when they were around fifteen, while others made it into…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":38513,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38512","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-farm"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nAs horses age, they produce less stomach acid, which affects their ability to digest nutrients like
\nprotein. Because of this, they will need increased protein content in their diet (since not all of it
\nwill be absorbed). Finding senior feed with at least 12-14% protein is optimal.
\nOlder horses also need plenty of fiber, especially if they\u2019re not eating as much hay. Therefore,
\nchoosing a senior feed that has at least 12% fiber is important to meet their dietary needs.<\/p>\n
\nPersonally, a low NSC level is important to me because some of my senior horses also struggle
\nwith symptoms of Equine Metabolic Syndrome or Cushing\u2019s Disease, where a low-sugar diet is
\nimportant. Keep in mind that a senior feed will make up for most, if not all, of the horse\u2019s
\nnutrition, especially in winter. Therefore, you don\u2019t want to overdo it with sugar and worsen any
\nmetabolic symptoms.<\/p>\n
\nlook at the manufacturer\u2019s website to find it or possibly reach out to the company to ask.
\nBecause not all horse owners are familiar with NSCs in feeds and hay, this isn\u2019t something the
\ncompanies always advertise. However, most nutritionists will recommend that the NSC level be
\naround 12% or less for horses with any kind of metabolic issue.<\/p>\n
\nnutrient dense and can replace all forage, if needed. Make sure to read the manufacturer\u2019s
\nfeeding directions and feed accordingly to ensure that your horse is getting the nutrients they
\nneed!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"