Saturday, June 23, 2012

Horse Vitamins For Your Older Horses

By Mark Givens


Horse Vitamins are really good for the horse, specially if it's already older. But keep in mind that vitamins alone won't keep your senior strong and good. Horses, like people, are living longer and a lot more horses than ever before are living a lengthy and happy retirement. Picture your elderly horse as a human for a moment. Would they be the type of person who would: Be nestled up in the home whining about the cost of home heating or out with their mates playing bingo in the neighborhood school hall. Maybe he is out playing a game of golf, followed by a few drinks inside the clubrooms. I think most animals prefer to get old disgracefully. When there is a bit of excitement in the paddock, the oldies will be in for a canter just as much as the rest of the herd.

More horses than ever are living to their 30s, because of improving professional care and the intense determination of proprietors to supply their loved companions with a content and healthy retirement. Exactly when a horse must be regarded as old will vary greatly. The kind of life a horse has led plus its type will play a huge part. Pony types often live longer, usually proving rideable up to 30. Larger breeds tend to produce old bones early on. It's therefore hard to define a horse as "older" at any particular age. It comes to evaluating the signs of advancing years, which include a sway back, drooping lower lip, a dulling cover, gradual decrease in body condition, more and more grey hairs, more rigid joints, plus the unavoidable teeth wear.

As the horse grows older, his bodily processes become much less efficient. His teeth might deteriorate enough where he can't eat correctly or chew up his hay. He may be arthritic. With less fat cover, he has more difficulty keeping himself warm. Things like good shelter, routine worming and frequent oral care, which were important when the horse was in his prime, now become vital. Keep in mind that your horse has become a senior citizen. He needs defense against wind as well as wet. A dry, three sided shelter bedded with straw is a good choice. Some older horses might need to be taken into a barn when the weather conditions are bad.

The simple action of turning the horse out for as long as possible each day can enhance his health in many ways. Being outside 24 hours a day is a wonderfully healthy means for a horse of any age to live. Simply because a horse is older does not mean he must be kept indoors. Actually, turnout can help prevent many of the problems we typically see in older horses. Having room to roam plays a role in long-term mobility by keeping muscles toned and joint parts moving freely.

Care for your senior horse by using horse vitamins plus the proper care. Among the saddest things I see is an older horse that is in otherwise perfect health, but has become so physically weak in his rear end that he could no longer stand up and has to be put down for it. It could begin with a bit of joint disease in the back-end, and the proprietor might think that less exercise will help, so he limits the horse's exercise and turnout, but the horse just gets weaker and weaker. If your older horse doesn't make the most of turnout time by going, use a lead to walk the horse around the paddock once or twice a day. A mature horse doesn't have to be worked with exactly the same intensity like his past, but he's got to continue moving to keep in good physical shape and strong. Turnout is vital for other body systems as well.




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