The senior diet should be: Highly palatable Easy to chew and swallow Clean and dust-free to prevent or lessen the impact of allergies or lung disease Provide 12 to 16 percent protein Contain enough high-quality fiber to aid digestion Provide essential minerals, including calcium and phosphorus in the proper ratio Plank for 20 seconds. says Mero. Navicular syndrome is another musculoskeletal condition that can interfere with an older horses fitness plan. Tomorrow it might be pure movement exercises or light weights for speed," says Lazarus. A great way to measure your horses fitness is to use a heart rate monitor. Instead of training a lot of new concepts, youll focus on maintaining overall fitness, but with a caveat.Im not advocating working a horse thats very arthritic, in pain or lame, says Mero. Start with circles in hand to stretch the body muscles, and a little bit shoulder-in and haunches-in in hand to improve the hind legs. By continuing to use our website, you accept the terms of our updated policies. The more supple and flexible the horse is, the easier it will be for him to build correct muscles. Every discipline requires your horse to be fit, but to excel in a specific discipline there are some particular areas that you will need to focus on. Just as important as nutrition is paying attention to your horses spirit and emotional needs, says Mero. Taking long walks together, going for groom-and-graze sessions where you brush him a bit as hes grazing, or just hanging out in the pasture or turnout while your horse moseys around can bring you both happiness. You can strap it around his trunk at the girth and under the saddle, and his heart rate will be displayed on a watch. Older horses will likely have a collection of bumps and lumps, but any that are new, tender or hot are cause for concern. And remember that some tricks, such as teaching a horse to paw or rear, may appear when you dont necessarily want them to. It is a topic I have researched extensively and I am happy to share my findings. It can also help to prevent painful muscle cramps and colic. Keeping horses active with exercise and turnout (preferably 24 hours/day) is essential in these later years. One solution is to work with owners of other senior horses where you board and coordinate turnout times so your horses can go out together. In fact, some surveys indicate that more than 15% of the horse population is over 20 years of age. Its much like how humans age: our joints might be sore in the morning as we start the day, but once we get moving, we will feel better. says Mero. ?The damage was done, it just took some time to be evident. Trick training provides movement as well as mental stimulation. The medication is once a day and is lifelong. Take it slowly Conditioning programs for older horses generally differ from those for their younger peers only in time frame and pace. Tuesday. Make sure you are prepared with your own supply of food, water, and other items to last for at least 72 hours. Its especially important for horses with mild arthritis.. A horse who spent his younger years in high-speed sports is more likely to develop musculoskeletal problems than one who was involved only in low-impact activities. Respond quickly to signs of trouble As your fitness plan progresses, watch for signs of stress in your older horse. Do weather conditions affect the risk of colic? Start with work in hand and see what your horse can handle while doing lateral work. jQuery('.pum-overlay').on('pumBeforeOpen', function () { {"piano":{"sandbox":"false","aid":"u28R38WdMo","rid":"R7EKS5F","offerId":"OF3HQTHR122A","offerTemplateId":"OTQ347EHGCHM"}}, {"location":"Keystone Header","subscribeText":"Subscribe now","version":"1","menuWidgetTitle":"","myAccountLnk":"\/my-account","premiumLnk":"\/join","menuLnks":[],"colors":{"text":"#000","button":"#000","link":"#00643f"}}, What should you do with your horse the day before an event? How to think about the work of the "older horse". Tip #17:And last but not least: Give him lots of love and extra pats and praise for everything that makes him so special!! Being able to move around for hours a day, preferably in the company of a herd with similar temperaments, promotes gentle fitness and helps a senior horse maintain muscle tone and interest in his surroundings. Medical-Related Items: A 3-day supply of medicine, at a minimum. says Mero. Hold for 10 seconds, eventually working up to 30 seconds. You can overload by varying the frequency, intensity or time of training. He may enjoy a liniment rubdown (over his stiff joints) and might also benefit from a little anti-inflammatory medication, such as bute, before and/or after harder workouts. In foreground: Bjartur the 28-year old Icelandic at my barn. Q: I have had my horse for about three years now, and he is getting up in age (hes about 17 years old.) Of course, not all horses will be able to compete at the top of their games at that age and, generally speaking, we should lower our expectations in terms of athletic performance as the horse ages. At A Glance: To Get Your Older Horse Fit: 1. }); TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM ?Particularly those that have been around and seen a lot. In addition to obvious lumps and injuries, signs that an older horse may be having trouble with a conditioning program include tripping, loss of balance or a general lack of luster. ?People like to say a horse only has so many miles, and in some respect it is a finite thing, but what they spent those miles doing is also a major factor.? Obtaining energy in this way releases lactic acid into your horses muscles and he will begin to tire. Tighten your abdominals and keep a flat back as you bring a soft bend through the knees, lowering the dumbbells towards the floor. says Mero. One of the most common questions I receive from readers is how to navigate the fitness of their senior horses. Remember that this fitness plan is a guide and during every session you need to consider whether your horse is ready to progress to the next stage of training. You may have to look carefully for these signs, as many horses will soldier on, even when stressed. Conditioning occurs when tissues are stressed then given time to recover as stronger, fitter structures. Above this level (normally at a fast canter) he will start to work anaerobically, which is when his body doesnt have time to use oxygen to release his energy because it requires the energy much faster. But from ages 17 to the early 20s, assuming there aren?t other issues, such as navicular or significant arthritis, theres really no reason that horses cant be put on a sensible conditioning program, fitted up and enjoyed by their riders.? Just as in people, the benefits of exercise for aging horses are myriad and self-reinforcing. Its important not to progress too quickly as you may risk injury to him. A rice-based feed is a good, easily digested food source for an older horse. "Senior feeds generally contain 12 to 14 percent crude protein and have a fat content that ranges from 5 to 10 percent, depending on how the feed is to be used. "My 34-year-old mare hangs out with a 28-year-old rescued gelding that is a bit crippled but still does . Tip #9:Do not work your senior on hot and humid days,as older horses are less efficient at regulating their body temperature.. In fact, there are no measurable differences in aerobic capacity between middle-aged horses and younger horses. Is regular exercise beneficial for older horses or, conversely, does the extra wear and tear on joints, tendons, and ligaments only hasten development of crippling lameness problems? The site also includes a video game, Exercising Horsepower, in which players conduct their own scientific studies on horses exercising on a virtual treadmill. Copyright 2022 EG Media Investments LLC. console.log('pumOpen prevented'); This article originally appeared in the February 2014 issue of Practical Horseman. There's good reason for this: By 2050, the number of people 60 or older will increase to 2 billion, up from just 900 million in 2015. ?Assuming your horse doesnt have a murmur0 or other previous condition, hes not going to have a heart attack or stroke while getting back in shape. Droopy lips. Warming up Cooling Down Aftercare Following every ride: Wash or brush off any sweat marks. The Horsesexperts answer your questions during a monthly live audio event. Kara L. Stewart shared more than two decades with her beloved Arabian, Eddie. Mero says that, in her experience, the inferior and superior check ligaments on each leg, which stabilize the knee and take load off the flexor tendons, seem more prone to injury in older horses than younger ones. Adding the word 'ante' before it means 'best broken down nag.'. Stay up-to-date on the latest news about your horse's health with FREE newsletters from TheHorse.com. With your veterinarian?s approval, you can then begin to devise a fitness plan for your older horse, based on his situation and your goals. Land on your heel, then roll forward onto the ball of your foot, pushing off from your toes. Most adult horses have a heart rate of 30 to 40 beats per minute (bpm) when at rest, but younger horses vary with foals at 70 to 120 bpm, yearlings at 45 to 60 bpm, and 2-year olds at 40 to 50 bpm. At the outset, ?plan to do lots and lots of miles at a walk,? If you are unsure whether your horse is stiff versus in pain, please consult your vet. But, says Mero, ?if a client asks me, I usually say 25 is the limit for serious athletic activity. says Mero. Put another way, in 30 short years from now, nearly a quarter of the . Check-ligament injuries can cause lameness and swelling on the back of the cannonlooking like a bowed0 tendonand can take many months to heal. Wednesday. "An older horse may take longer to eat, especially if he has dental problems," Dee adds. This article about how to exercise a senior horseappearedin the October 2020 issue ofHorse Illustratedmagazine. Are there special considerations in the conditioning and general care of older horses? Before you start working out, get a health check-up and make a plan with realistic goals. Just because your senior horse cant be ridden, there are many ways to help keep him fit and vibrant. Even if the horse appears to be in good spirits and relativity fit it is a good idea to start with a cautious approach in order to protect against lameness. In fact, some surveys indicate that more than 15% of . Melinda Freckleton, DVMFirestar Veterinary ServiceCatlett, Virginia, Delaware Valley University to livestream foaling. This will show you his progress and help you to identify the cause of any problems. Moderate-intensity aerobic . That said, an active youth also means a horses muscles, bones and joints have sustained more wear and tear. Before putting any horse over the age of 15 into a conditioning program, check with your veterinarian. Mainly hacking with short schooling sessions. A horses sporadic movement in pasture does not create the rhythmic muscular contractions needed to maintain recruitment of postural muscles and nerves. Characterized by inflammation of the structures around a horses navicular bone deep in the hoof, this condition can often be managed with specialized trimming and shoeing.