Another fairly familiar problem with an aging horse is degenerative joint disease aka arthritis. You most absolutely can still work them and in reality should work them to keep them limber, alert and active. You would simply require to bear in mind to warm them up carefully and completely prior to doing any work. Numerous older horses, although they may be stiff and sore, still enjoy to go out and do things. Their minds aren’t dead and they are still interested in life.
With an older friend you’ve worked, you will require to cool them down slowly by hand walking them and rubbing them dry with a towel. If you have the facilities, you might even desire to provide them a warm bath. A little indulging is a good thing when you get to be that age.
Treat the feet and your older horse will still provide you much more miles. Work with your farrier and get regular shoeing and trimming to help reduce concussion. If you keep them on pasture, then choosing to go barefoot is good for their joints. This blue-green algae supplement can also help a bunch to maintain healthy feet and avoid these issues:
Like human beings, older horses do tend to put on weight if they are overfed and under worked. If your horse is getting a bit chubby, change his feed.
And the other concern with older horses is colic. Symptoms consist of: absence of appetite, pawing, kicking at the abdominal area, getting up and down, rolling, restlessness, flank viewing and/or biting, raised skin temperature level, sweating from pain and a sawhorse stance.
Why do older horses appear to have more problems with colic? It’s mostly due to the reality they may be having difficulty chewing and swallowing and not having the ability to consume properly. Excessive food not cleaned down can lodge in the throat or trigger a clog elsewhere.
Summing It All Up
Numerous older horses, although they may be stiff and sore, still enjoy to go out and do things. Treat the feet and your older horse will still provide you numerous more miles. And the other concern with older horses is colic.