WHAT TO KNOW: Feeding Senior Horses Through Winter

As horse owners, we know our senior equine companions deserve the best care, especially as winter approaches. Mature horses (typically 15–20+ years) face unique nutritional challenges, from reduced digestive efficiency to maintaining body condition in cold weather. Here’s how to support their health, hydration, and comfort all winter long.

1. Hydration Is the Foundation

Water is one of the most overlooked nutrients, yet it’s essential for digestion, nutrient absorption, and joint lubrication. Seniors are especially prone to dehydration in winter because cold water often discourages drinking.

How to keep them drinking:

• Offer lukewarm water (45–65°F) using heated buckets or by adding warm water to troughs.
• Aim for 5–10 gallons per horse per day, and monitor intake closely—poor hydration can quickly lead to impaction colic.
• If your horse is a picky drinker, try flavouring water with a splash of apple juice or adding electrolytes as recommended.

2. Prioritize Fibre and Soaked Feeds

Fibre is the backbone of a horse’s diet, and seniors often benefit from soaked or wet feed that boosts hydration and supports easier chewing.

Top fibre choices for seniors:

• Beet pulp: A winter superstar. Soak for ~30 minutes to create a soft mash that’s gentle on aging teeth and rich in soluble fibre.
• Super fibres like soy hulls or timothy pellets: Highly digestible, low in starch, and excellent for weight maintenance without stressing the hindgut.
• For horses with dental issues, soak pellets or fibres into a soft slurry to mimic the ease of grazing.

3. Choose a Balanced, Fortified Senior Feed

A senior feed formulated for mature horses is essential. These complete rations include vitamins, minerals, and high-quality, lysine-rich proteins to support muscle maintenance.

What to look for:

• A proper calcium-to-phosphorus ratio of 1.5–2:1 for bone health.
• Highly bioavailable ingredients to compensate for reduced nutrient absorption in aging digestive tracts.
• Low NSC (non-structural carbohydrates) — ideally under 12–13% — especially for horses prone to insulin dysregulation, EMS, or PPID. Avoid high-sugar feeds like sweet feeds, corn, or molasses-heavy mixes.

4. Don’t Skip the Dental Check

Before winter sets in, schedule a dental exam with your veterinarian. Worn teeth, hooks, or other dental issues can make chewing hay painful and lead to weight loss. Floating teeth improves chewing efficiency and helps seniors get the most out of their forage.

5. Feed the Correct Amount

Feeding the right volume of senior feed is crucial to avoid nutrient deficiencies or unwanted weight gain.

Follow label recommendations based on body weight and activity. Horses generally need:

• 1.5%–2% of body weight daily in total feed and forage combined.
• Underfeeding leads to gaps in minerals (selenium, copper, zinc) and vitamins (like Vitamin E for immune support).
• Overfeeding increases the risk of obesity and metabolic stress.

6. Build Condition Before Winter Hits

If your senior tends to lose weight in cold weather, help them regain condition while temperatures are still mild.

Ways to support healthy weight:

• Offer soaked mashes or higher-calorie fibre sources.
• Add safe fats where appropriate.
• Increase hay availability.
• If their body condition score drops below 5/9 on the Henneke scale before winter, consider blanketing, which can reduce energy needs by 10–20% in harsh weather.

Keeping Your Senior Thriving

With the right approach; hydration, high-quality fibre, balanced nutrition, dental care, and proactive conditioning, your senior horse can stay comfortable, healthy, and thriving all winter long.

Ask a member of our team for more info next time you're in our Langley Feed Store.