What would you recommend feeding my 23 year old Standardbred mare in light work?

Question

Hello All, I just got a Standardbred mare today and she will be riding 3-4 times a week for 30 Min's only walking around as I do NOT want to work her to much as she is 23 years old and has had 7 foals in her life she just had one last year and her foal is just being weaned of her starting from today . She is a bit under weight and is about 15.3 hh big build , What would you recommend feeding her to fatten her up and what do you recommend to feed her after she is at a healthy weight her ribs are showing , and she will be rugged after I find a rug that fits her and she is fed daily and handled brush etc and of course LOVED , we just want her to be a light riding horse now as I think she has had way to many foals and it time for her to relax and enjoy life lol, she was a trotter in her younger days and she has good blood lines , she was a bit upset in the float as she was taking from her foal just today before she got here so it was a big change for the poor thing , and I own other horses they are all younger and in heavy work, I have never had a older mare before so any thoughts and kind words would be much thanked in advance Thanks Heaps

Answer 1

A colt usually brings the mare down in weight, so I'm not surprised to hear she's a bit ribby.  She's probably not a hard keeper or anything, just been feeding two.

The best thing you can do for her is get her (slowly) onto grass.  There is no better feed for weight gain than good pasture.  Failing that (or in addition), I feed good hay (grass or grass/alfalfa mix) free choice and a lower protein commercial ration.  Most horses seem to prefer a sweet feed, but for the older ones I like to use pellets.  Any good quality commercial feed is fine.

Once she's got the weight back on, it's a matter of how much feed she needs and how hard it is for her to chew it.  If she has teeth problems, Purina Equine Senior is widely available and does a great job; otherwise she can eat whatever your other horses eat.

I don't like beet pulp (messy, many horses won't eat it, and it can cause problems) and I certainly would never recommend giving any freechoice grain.  Barley and Corn are extremely high in protein, which as any Atkins diet plan fan knows is not the best means of putting weight on.  I prefer the more more natural, slower method of grass and some grain as needed.

Whatever you do, I'm sure you know changes in diet should be GRADUAL!  If you're adding corn oil or vinegar (which I don't), add it only when you're about to feed it.

She sounds like she's moving into Horse Heaven with someone who cares and wants the best for her.  These older horses can be extremely rewarding.  They tend to be calmer and more interested in quiet pursuits like being loved on than the youngsters do.  

Best of luck with her!

Answer 2

Considering ease of use there is nothing better than a "senior" complete feed in addition to good forage.  I use Nutrena Senior regularly and have been happy with the results.

If she just needs a little boost and not a complete overhaul .. or you feel she just does not need a senior feed yet try Nutrena "Safe Choice".

Beet pulp is also an option.  I have been feeding beet pulp DRY for over 15 years, usually to no fewer than 20 head a day and i have never had a colic from it.  Oats swell in the digestive tract also and no one is rushing to the barn to soak them.

As someone mentioned,  a good green pasture will do more for her than anything.  There are a million  different supplements and feedstuffs that will fatten her up and put a

bloom on her.   Flax seed, soya oil, BOSS, .. its up to you to find whats available in your area.  

Good luck with her .. sounds like shes gonna be a happy horsey for years to come!

Answer 3

I would feed a senior feed. For example Neutrena Senior Feed. It has all the vitamins and minerals to help maintain an older horse.

Answer 4

Where do you live?  I get the feeling you aren't in USA... just wondering.... if you are, I've heard great things about the John Lyons brand of senior feed.  I'll be starting our 24 year old Appy cross gelding on it as soon as the other stuff is gone (well, we'll mix about half a bag of the old stuff with the new stuff).  Here (in Montana, USA) we got it at Costco for about $15 for a 50 lb bag.  Wherever you live, I'd suggest some senior feed and make sure to get her teeth checked.

Answer 5

I'm in California and if I have a horse who's starting to look a bit "ribby" or I've purchased some rack of bones,  I go out and buy a 50LB sack of A&M (Ground alfafa and molasses) (In the mid west they use beet pulp BUT I've been informed that you HAVE to add water to it or it will swell in a horse's belly causing colic), dump it into a tub or feeder in the horse's stall, then top it with some rolled barley corn that is mixed with corn oil and apple cider vinegar. (I feed a 3LB coffee can of the barley corn mixture once a day.) The horse will normally devour the first couple of bags of A&M, but then they will slack off as they get used to it (Never had an issue with colic or founder)...

I haven't fed oats or any mixed feed in decades, basically because I've had running horses and TBs I'm trying to keep quiet, so I feed the rolled barley corn mixture to them for weight, NOT heat.

I also give my horses a hot bran mash twice a week with the vinegar and corn oil (I can mix the barleycorn into it.).  I feed 1/2 a 3 LB coffee can of red wheat flakey bran and add enough water to it so that it looks like oatmeal in consistancy.

I make sure that they get 2 flakes of alfafa hay per feeding.

Once your mare has put the weight back on, then you can drop the feed down to just 3LBS of the barley corn w/corn oil and ACV on the days you ride, when you're NOT riding, a 1LB can of barley corn w/the corn oil and ACV.  And continue with the 2 flakes of hay at each feeding.

Answer 6

id say go ask someone you know has the knowledge to answer this question. like a trainer or a vet that can look at the horse and see what condition it's in now and where to improve if improvements are needed.

i really dont think getting this type of answer online will help the horse any b/c there are any number of different things you can feed the horse. . . but only someone in person looking at the horse and the situation can tell you what route is best.