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Caring For The Older Horse & Pony

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 10:12:52 GMT

The average horse lives to be approximately 20 years of age, although many ponies and a few horses live for 30 years or more. Older horses and ponies need a little extra care to ensure that they remain healthy and happy.

Feeding

Older horses and ponies need access to good quality feed and pasture as their nutrient demands increase because their digestive system becomes less efficient at converting food into energy and body tissues.

This is more important if the horse is still in work. There are several commercially-available feeds specifically made for the older horse and your veterinary surgeon will be able to help you decide which would best suit your requirements. A multi-vitamin and mineral supplement will be necessary if you are not feeding a 'complete' feed. If pasture is poor in quantity, hay should be fed.

This need not be best quality but should be readily digestible. Clean water must be available at all times.

Teeth & Feet

Regular attention to teeth will enable the older horse or pony to make best use of the feed that he/she is receiving. A visit by your veterinary surgeon or an equine dental technician (EDT) recommended by your veterinary surgeon, once or possibly even twice a year, is necessary to ensure that sharp enamel edges or overgrowths do not form. Tooth damage and abnormal growth can be recognised and dealt with.

Equine teeth get harder as they get older and abnormal growth problems are usually easier to correct at earlier rather than later stages. In the very old horse and pony, some teeth may be missing or in very poor condition and these may be very difficult to improve. The earlier abnormalities are dealt with, the better for the horse.

Farrier rasping feet

Feet should be kept picked out and regularly trimmed even if the horse or pony is not being exercised. This not only helps him/her move about but reduces the risk of abnormal hoof conditions and associated foot pain developing, which may interfere with his/her ability to eat and will help maintain quality of life.

Disease Conditions

Older horses and ponies are more likely to suffer from tumours, either of the skin or internal organs, some hormonal conditions, such as Cushing’s disease, degenerative diseases such as arthritis and muscle weakness, allergic respiratory disease and diseases of the liver and kidneys.

This seems like a daunting list but most horses and ponies can and do lead happy and comfortable lives even in the presence of one or more of these conditions. Attention must be paid to appetite, attitude, and response to the environment and owners should look out for behaviour changes which indicate poor health.

A periodic blood check for signs of infectious, inflammatory, parasitic and metabolic diseases may be a helpful measure. In many cases all that is required is a little extra care, e.g. making feed more palatable or more appealing, either by changing it to a specialised ration or by the addition of treats such as chopped apples, carrots and molasses.

Vacination

As they become older, horses and ponies become more susceptible to the damaging effects of parasites and infections. The maintenance of a vaccination programme and internal parasite control is essential to reduce the risk of ill health, either directly or indirectly related to parasite damage or infection such as 'flu' (Equine influenza). Routine or strategic worm egg counts on dropping samples should be performed.

This means that appropriate targeted anthelmintic treatment can be given and unnecessary overuse or misuse of worms can be avoided. This is becoming increasingly important as more resistance to the few available worms is being detected in some worm populations.

And Finally ...

Most old horses and ponies are able to lead a good quality life for many years after their working life is over. They are often excellent companions for each other, younger horses or orphan foals. They can also be a wonderful first introduction for young children to the joys of just having a horse around.
However, it is important that we make sure that they are still enjoying their lives. This can be clearly and honestly assessed by those who know them by their demeanour and their behaviour. Old horses and ponies should not be left to suffer. When they are no longer enjoying themselves, for incurable reasons and this becomes clear, humane euthanasia should be discussed with your veterinary surgeon, earlier rather than later

However painful a decision this may be to you, it will be a kindness to your friend.

Behavioural Problems

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 10:00:47 GMT

Owners recognise that horses and ponies all have different 'personalities', with varying temperaments, willingness to please and responses to environment and handling. With the exception of some of the miniature breeds, they are bigger and stronger than their handlers.

Many behavioural problems can be due to the fact that they have managed to 'get away with' minor misdemeanours and the problem grows from there.

In other situations vices and 'bad behaviour' may be responses to boredom, stress environment or management practices. Genetics, i.e. breeding, may have a bearing in some cases.

Crib-biting, windsucking, weaving and box walking

These are also known as stable vices. They are repetitive actions, which appear to serve no useful purpose. They usually develop in response to environmental stress such as being stabled, restricted access to grazing, boredom, etc., although it is probable that certain horses are predisposed to these behaviours due to their temperament or breeding. There is also a widely held belief that stressful weaning might contribute to the development of one of these behaviours.

Crib-biting involves chewing wooden structures in the stable or paddock. In some horses there may be a dietary reason but in most it is just a habit probably developed to relieve boredom.

Windsucking involves biting onto a door, feed manger, fence rail or other wooden surface and appearing to gulp in air. This habit can lead to colic or failure to thrive with some horses developing a 'pot bellied' appearance. Many windsuckers will stop this behaviour if a 'windsucking strap' is applied tightly around the throat. An operation to cut the throat muscles used during windsucking is sometimes performed on persistent cases but this is only successful in some.

Weaving is the habitual swaying movement performed often across the stable door or along a fence or wall. It is usually a sign of boredom or anxiety. Some horses will stop if a 'V' shaped grill is placed on the stable door. Some respond to having an unbreakable mirror placed on the wall of the stable to give the impression of a companion.

Box walking involves repeated episodes of aimless walking either around the stable or along a wall. Attempts to control this behaviour include supplying the horse with 'toys' to relieve boredom or placing obstacles such as rubber tyres in the stable to impede progress. In the case of both weaving and box walking, horses tend to be worse if upset or unsettled. For many, having a companion such as another horse or pony or even a sheep, can help minimise weaving and box walking behaviour.

Bucking, Rearing & Refusing

These behavioural problems are often due to pain, particuarly if 'out of character'. You should ask your veterinary surgeon to examine your horse or pony if it suddenly develops such behaviour. If there is no obvious clinical problem, it may be helpful to test dose with an analgesic (painkilling) drug, e.g. phenylbutazone, for a few days or weeks to see if the behaviour improves. If improvement occurs, further investigations, including examination of the teeth, neck and back, and inspection of the horse’s tack, are indicated.

Horse-rider incompatibility is sometimes a cause of such abnormal behaviour. The horse should be ridden by another, competent rider to see if the abnormal behaviour continues. If a change of rider or of location alters the behaviour, there is not likely to be a clinical cause. If a clinical cause is found, appropriate treatment can be given. In other cases it may be worth enlisting the help of an experienced horse person or someone who specialises in 'difficult' horses.

General Handling Problems

Many of these problems, such as pulling away when being led, biting, pushing the handler up against a wall, etc. are usually a result of the horse being allowed to take the upper hand. It is important to be assertive at all times when handling horses. Horses quickly recognise a nervous or apprehensive approach. If they learn that they can misbehave in this manner they can become uncooperative, unusable and dangerous.

Re-education of a horse which has developed a 'bad habit' or unacceptable response to a situation such as loading or clipping should be undertaken as soon as the behaviour is recognised. Rewarding desired behaviour may be a good start but professional advice should be sought before the horse becomes dangerous.

Young Stock & Orphan Foals

When handling young stock, in particular, it is important not to 'spoil' them. Orphaned foals can become so 'humanised' that they lose all respect for their human handlers and can become extremely difficult and dangerous to handle when they become older.

It is always best to try to foster an orphan foal onto a foster mare or to provide it with a horse or pony companion. They need the company of other horses to learn to behave as horses and seldom thrive unless they become properly socialised. Handling should be restricted to the minimum required for feeding and education. The latter should start from birth with getting used to a head collar ('foal slip') and being handled around the head and neck and picking up the legs, on a daily basis, so that these necessary handling events are well tolerated through later life. Foals should be taught to lead with a foal slip and lead rein, alongside mother, from an early age.

To find a satisfactory role in life alongside humans, whether destined for racing or pleasure riding, horses must be skillfully, respectfully and sympathetically educated to accept and hopefully enjoy human direction.