Introduction:
Horses live with us for quite a long time. It is our sole responsibility to take care of the horses. As the horses get older, their dietary requirements change as well. The diet needs are highly influenced by changes in metabolism, missing or bad teeth, or an inefficient digestive system. Lack of a proper diet can cause your senior horse to have serious health complications like kidney failure or impaired liver functioning. As a horse age, the absorption of the essential nutrients decreases due to a breakdown of the digestive system. This article will provide a detailed senior horse feed comparison. The senior horse feeds compared below are the best for older horses.
13 Best Senior Horse Feed Comparison:
1. Triple crown senior
The triple crown senior is a complete horse feed. It is suitable for horses with dietary issues. The feed has low sugar levels as well as a beet-pulp blend making it an ideal choice for horses that have issues that have issues with their metabolism. The triple crown senior is usually softer than most horse feeds. It can be mixed with water to make it more edible for the senior horses. It has 17% crude fiber and 14% crude protein. Additionally, it is enriched with vitamin E and Omega 3 fatty acids.
Pros
- It is a complete feed.
- Rich in minerals and vitamins.
Cons
- It is expensive.
2. Purina Mills Equine Senior horse feed
This type of horse feed is a horse feed that is recommended by many veterinarians. It has low levels of non-structural carbohydrates; therefore, it is suitable for horses that are allergic to sugar. The Purina mills Equine senior contains hay and beet pulp. It also has prebiotics that helps in the digestion process. The feed also has added minerals and vitamins that are vital to the health of the horse.
Pros
- Suitable for those horses that react to sugar.
- This feed contains hay and beet pulp.
- It has Probiotics that help in the digestion process.
Cons
- It is not a complete feed. It must be fed with forages.
3. Manna Pro Senior Equine Supplement
The feed is specially designed for older horses. It is a feed that is rich in calcium, fats, proteins, and probiotics. The Manna Pro Senior also contains minerals and vitamins that aid in the digestive process as well as promote the health of the horse. It is processed by extruding pellets, making them very to digest. It is important to note that this feed should be fed together with a forage source.
Pros
- It is rich in calcium, fats, and protein.
- This feed has probiotics that help in the digestion process.
- It is rich in vitamins and other essential minerals.
Cons
- It cannot be fed to the horse without a forage source.
4. Farman Senior Health and wellness supplement
The feed is specially designed for those horses that are not active. The Farman senior health and wellness supplement is enriched with the much-needed minerals, protein, and vitamins suitable for an older horse. It also contains prebiotics and amino acids that help indigestion. It can be fed along with a forage-only diet or together with a grain or forage diet.
Pros
- It can be served in conjunction with a forage or grain diet.
- This feed contains probiotics and amino acids that aid in digestion.
- It is rich in minerals, vitamins, and proteins.
- This feed is readily available in the market.
- It has a great taste that the horse enjoys.
Cons
- Designed for non-active horses only.
5. Manna Pro Senior Weight Accelerator for horses
This particular senior horse feed is rich in calories and fats. These are essential for maintaining or gaining weight for the horse. Senior horses are in more need of calories than the younger breeds. The Manna Pro Senior Weight Accelerator is best suited for providing the much-needed calories and fats to the older horses. It is also enriched with prebiotics and Omega 3 fatty acids that help in the digestion process. Additionally, they help in promoting a shiny coat and skin of the horse.
Pros
- It is rich in calories and fat.
- This feed is enriched with Omega 3 fatty acids and probiotics.
- It is very tasteful that the horses find irresistible.
Cons
- Not suitable for insulin-resistant horses.
6. Horse Guard Super Weight Gian Equine Vitamin and Mineral Supplement
It is a fantastic horse supplement that has different ingredients that are suitable for a senior horse. It is essential to put into consideration the nutrition needs of older horses as you address their dietary needs. The Horse Guard contains vital minerals, vitamins prebiotics, and amino acids. In addition, it includes soybeans which are a great source of energy without increasing the horse’s body metabolism. It is an excellent weight gain supplement for senior horses.
Pros
- It is rich in minerals and vitamins.
- This feed has amino acids and probiotics that aid in digestion.
- It contains soybeans a great source of energy.
Cons
- Not suitable for those horses that react to soybeans.
7. Ultracruz Equine Vitamin C supplement
The Ultracruz is specially formulated with the horse and its owner in mind. They are rich in minerals and vitamins. This feed comes in a large bag that guarantees continuous feeding for up to 50 days. It is an excellent source of vitamin C that is much needed by your senior horse. It comes in powder form, making it very easy to administer. All that is required is to mix this feed with some water and then feed it to your horse.
Pros
- It is easy to administer to the horse.
- This feed is a rich source of vitamin C.
- Comes in large quantities.
- It is rich in essential minerals.
Cons
- Not commonly found in the market.
8. Purina Animal Nutrition Strategy Healthy Edge
The Purina Animal Nutrition is a senior horse feed that is available in nuggets. Horses find nuggets very delightful. It contains purinareg, an essential ingredient for maintaining the right gastric ph. It is a preferred choice for those who have a horse that has ulcers. This is because this particular feed has a unique blend of ingredients that are specially designed for digestion, gastric balance, and motility. It is also rich in amino acids and controlled amounts of sugars and starch.
Pros
- Suitable for senior horses with ulcers.
- Rich in amino acids essential for digestion.
- It has a delightful taste.
Cons
- It is designed for the mature horse only.
9. Bluebonnet Feeds Triple Crown Senior
This is another excellent feed for senior horses. It is one of the best available in the market. The Bluebonnet feed is uniquely blended with fat ingredients that help the horse to gain the necessary weight. It also contains probiotics that in improving digestion. It has a great taste that horses love. In comparison to other senior horse feeds, it is relatively cheaper.
Pros
- Cheaper than most senior horse feeds.
- Probiotics for effective digestion.
- Help the horse to gain the desired weight.
- It is available in both textured form and extruded pellet.
Cons
- No mention of pre or probiotics in the feed literature.
10. Nutrena Proforce Senior Horse Feed
The nutrena proforce is a complete senior horse feed with many nutritional benefits for the aging horse. It is uniquely designed with a special formula that contains minerals, vitamins, and fats in the desired quantities that the horse requires. This feed is a beet pulp feed that caters to the various nutritional needs of the horse. It comes in a 50-pound bag to last you many days.
Pros
- It is rich in vitamins and essential minerals.
- This feed is a suitable weight gain feed.
- It promotes the performance of a senior horse.
- Comes in large quantities.
Cons
- Not available in small packages.
11. Purina animal nutrition impacts professional senior
It is an effective senior horse feed that is preferred by many horse owners. This feed is specially formulated to help the older horses to gain the desired weight. It is enriched with minerals, vitamins, and proteins that promote the well-being of the horse. It is rich in calories and fat to provide sufficient energy to the senior horse. The feed has amino acid supplements that help in digestion and in joint support.
Pros
- Rich in minerals, vitamins, and proteins.
- Contains amino acids that help indigestion.
- It helps the horses to add the desired weight significantly.
Cons
- Not common to many horse owners and sellers.
12. Tribute senior sports for Horses
The tribute senior is a feed that is specially designed for older horses. It is rich in fiber as well as fat. The fiber aid in digestion as well as helps in improving the health of the gut. It is rich in vitamin E which is essential for muscle growth and protection. The feed has amino in controlled amounts to help the recovery of the worn-out muscles as well as promote the wellbeing of the horse. The quantity of feed given to the horse is highly dependent on the size and the activity level of the horse.
Pros
- Specially formulated for senior horses.
- It is a complete meal, Rich in essential minerals and vitamins.
- Has ingredients that help repair worn-out tissues and muscles.
Cons
- Not from a well-known manufacturer.
13. Kalmbach Feeds Tribute Growth Pellets for Horse
The Kalmbach feed is specially formulated for the rapid weight gain of the senior horse. It contains controlled levels of antioxidants that help to minimize the damage caused by age and vigorous exercises. The antioxidants also help to boost the immunity of the horse. The Kalmbach has a unique formula, the EquiFerm, that contains both the pre and probiotics that greatly help improve the digestion process of foods and improve the overall health of the gut.
Pros
- It has antioxidants that help improve the performance of horses.
- It is perfect for hard keepers.
- Excellent for horses with metabolic problems.
Cons
- Soybean which is the main ingredient can go rancid.
Factors to consider when buying senior horse Feed
1. Choose one that is highly digestible and can accommodate the less efficient digestive systems
2. Look for feeds that have improved and higher protein quality to make up for intestine malfunctioning.
3. Rich in fatty acids and calories for provision of the required energy.
4. Select those that are enriched with essential minerals and vitamins to make up for intestine inefficiency.
5. Choose a feed that has pre or probiotics because they help in digestion in promote the gut health
6. Inquire if the senior feed has the ability to be served as a mash. Senior feed mashes are usually highly palatable and keep the horses well hydrated.
Senior Horse Feed Comparison: FAQs
Q: How much should I feed my horse?
Each product feed usually comes with a suggestion on the amount that you should feed your horse. These feeds are usually more concentrated than others; hence you will have to give them in lesser quantities to avoid any allergic reaction. Additionally, it is prudent to put the age and the activity level into consideration before determining the amount of feed to give your horse.
Q: Do all senior horse feeds cover the horse’s mineral and vitamin needs?
Some of the feeds that have been discussed in this article are supplements and not complete feeds. The supplements are specially designed to be fed with other feeds. Different products have varying nutritional values. It is, therefore, prudent to determine the nutritional requirement of the horse so as to settle for the best product.
Q: How to make sure that a senior horse that has missing teeth eats its grain?
If your senior horse has fewer or bad teeth, it is advisable to choose a feed that has extruded pellets since they break very easily. Alternatively, you can soak the grains in water for a considerable amount of time to enable the horse to chew them.
Q: How many times should I feed my senior horse?
The recommended number of times to feed your horse is three times a day. These meals should be served in small portions. This helps the horse to utilize the food consumed effectively. However, if you are unable to serve your horse three times a day, then make sure you feed it two times a day.
Conclusion:
It is our sole responsibility to take care of senior horses. The older species of horses require great care. The type of feed or supplement that you choose for your horse should provide the necessary nutritional value. Check out the various listing of senior horse feed comparisons and settle on one that is best suited for your horse.
Senior horse feeds compared will help determine their similarities and differences and help you make an informed choice. Hopefully, this article will help you make the best decision in choosing senior horse feed for your animal.
I just wanted to make a note that the title used above for Purina Equine Senior *Active* is somewhat misleading. “Purina Equine Senior Horse Feed” has some significant differences from “Purina Equine Senior *Active* Horse Feed”- even though Purina themselves choose some deceptively similar names! The first IS a complete feed, while the second- as noted above- is NOT for one. As a huge fan of the “regular” Equine Senior, I thought that distinction would be helpful to readers.