There are fewer feed choices available for an old horse prone to laminitis. This is because extreme care should be taken to keep starch and simple sugars under a total combined amount of 10%. This will keep insulin levels low and stable. It is high, peaking insulin which has been shown to be a trigger for laminitis events in horses. Icon, a 4-year-old Welsh Sec D owned by Jude Raywood was diagnosed with grade 3 ulcers in March 2023. Jude’s vet suggested changing Icon’s feed to Dengie Healthy Tummy to support his overall digestive health and as part of his on-going management. After making the changes to Icon’s ration and following the vet’s treatment plan Icon scoped clear of ulcers 4 weeks later! Ageing can be associated with reduced production of saliva, the normal lubricant for food. Digestion also starts in the mouth with special enzymes that are contained within the saliva, so a reduction in this means the digestive process can be compromised. Less saliva also means less buffering of stomach acid which in other species has been documented as being low in elderly animals. 3. How can stomach acid affect an old horse?

Amounts are total daily weight. They are based on a 450 -550 kilogram horse eating around 10 kg of hay or haylage (2% of body weight) and can be split into two, three or four feeds per day. We have given low and high hay replacement figures as well as total replacement amounts. This will allow maximum flexibility. A high specification of vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins. Additional magnesium and calcium are included to help maintain optimal digestive health There are various means of doing this, but weigh tapes are an easy option and one that every horse owner should invest in and use regularly to monitor changes. It is also important to consider that fibre is very lightweight. At Dengie, we commonly liken fibre feeds to a ton of feathers compared to a ton of coal, which represents cereal feeds. Although both are the same weight, the feathers or fibre take up a much larger space than the coal or cereals.Sarah-Jane Brown has fed Dengie to her horses for years as she believes it is the best fibre available. She recently represented Great Britain at the European Championships for Veteran Riders with her mare Fliss. Corey’s daily Dengie diet gives him energy to perform at his best and look fantastic without affecting his temperament. What more could I ask for?” says Brook. Perhaps the most problematic aspect of how to feed an old horse is what happens to its teeth. At the time they erupt in a young horse, a horse’s cheek teeth are approximately 4” in length (including the exposed/erupted part and the portion within the jaw). Over the years, munching grass and hay cause these teeth to wear down over time. By the time horses are in their late twenties to early thirties, most have lost the majority of their teeth. This is normal and part of the ageing process.

The decision to carry out scientific analysis on the grass and hay an elderly horse eats, depends largely on whether you have control over the forage eaten and the amount eaten each day. Cushing’s disease is most common in old horses and can have a strong impact on oral health. The high cortisol levels associated with poorly controlled Cushings lead to protein breakdown in muscles and connective tissues, including the small ligaments which secure the teeth in position within the bones. This breakdown leads to tooth loosening. Conner was suffering with faecal water issues that were particularly bad after being on fresh grass or if he was stabled. Gemma also believed that Conner had ulcers from the stressful upbringing he had before she bought him. It was suggested that Gemma tried Conner on Dengie Healthy Tummy which she says made a huge difference.

Why can fibre feeds be fed in larger amounts than cereal based feeds to horses?

Karyce realised she was going to have to make some drastic changes to the lifestyle of Della her Welsh Section C mare – she had to lose some weight as she was at risk of getting laminitis. Rolled or Flaked Porridge Oats (works well with hay/grass pellets and beet pulp for the concentrated energy and high phosphorus to balance calcium)