Oligosaccharides (MOS) have also been found to be beneficial, whilst vitamin C has a role to play in lung health.


Dietary recommendations:


Forage Forage is the foundation of any horse’s diet and older horses are no exception.


A constant supply of fibre is essential to maintain a healthy digestive system, with optimal gut motility and balanced hindgut microflora. As dental function declines, it becomes increasingly important to provide suitable fibre sources. Haylage can be easier for an older horse to manage, when compared to a mature, coarse hay. Straw-based chops should be avoided but soſt, short chopped grass can be used as a hay/haylage replacer for a short period.


However, fibre in a pre-ground form rapidly becomes essential, and can be supplied by using a mash that is high in fibre or soaked fibre cubes.


Hard Feeds • Healthy older horse in good condition: Horses that can maintain their level of work, without any significant health concerns, may be able to continue on their previous diet providing it is fully-balanced. The addition of a supplement including glucosamine and MSM may be sensible at this stage. Alternatively, there are top specification feed balancers available that include the recommended level of glucosamine and provide a very economical solution.


• Overweight older horse: With age, workload will usually reduce and eventually lead to retirement. This means that if they remain healthy, certain


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SupPort


TopSpec 10:10 Joint Support is a caramel flavoured additive which contains an excellent specification of nutrients to support the development and maintenance of healthy joints.


The types of horses most likely to benefit include horses subject to extreme athletic demand e.g. those used for dressage, show jumping, eventing, endurance, driving and western riding. Also likely to benefit are horses subject to repeated wear and tear e.g. the


older horses can be prone to weight gain.


Feeding a top specification ‘lite’ feed balancer or multi- supplement is ideal. The best contain both general purpose and specialised supplements, including those for hooves, bone, muscle, blood, joints, the immune system and the digestive tract.


• Underweight older horse: As health issues develop, many older horses are likely to experience weight loss.


Hard feeds should be nutrient-dense and not exceed the horse’s maximum meal size e.g. 2kg for a 500kg horse. A top specification, conditioning feed balancer will supply amino acids, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and yeast products, and will improve the utilisation of the rest of the diet.


Most top specification, conditioning feed balancers contain high quality protein sources. Protein promotes muscle development and topline, which frequently wastes away in older horses.


As older horses are gradually able to eat less fibre, and there- fore may suffer from disturbances in the hindgut microbial balance, feeds that are high in starch and sugar should be avoided.


Adding a low sugar/starch, conditioning blend to a top specification feed balancer will provide a very successful solution for older horses.


Article supplied by nutritionists from the T opSpec Multiple


Award-Winning-Helpline. They can be contacted, free of charge, on 01845-565030.


elderly or those working on poor surfaces.


TopSpec 10:10 Joint Support contains a generous combination of natural sources of glucosamine (10g/500kg horse/day) and MSM (10g/500kg horse/day). Glucosamine is a precursor and component of GAGs, e.g. chondroitin, hyaluronic acid. GAGSs are essential constituents of cartilage and synovial fluid.


MSM is a bio-available source of sulphur and helps to maintain optimum function in connective tissues such as tendons, ligaments and muscles.


It promotes fluid dispersion at injury sites via its role in the permeability of cell walls.


TopSpec 10:10 Joint Support also contains a blend of anti-oxidants, i.e. vitamins C, E, beta-carotene and natural tocopherols, to help maintain healthy cells in the joint.


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