The teeth of older horses
Older horses have ailments, and unfortunately this also applies to the teeth. Old horses with bad teeth that drop quids or have bad breath are no exception. The teeth of horses grow throughout their lives. Because horses now live longer than in nature, a horse may live for years after its teeth have fully erupted. This may cause complications. The part of the tooth in the gums becomes very short, at times so short that the entire tooth falls out.
Older horse with teeth problems
A tooth can sometimes also become loose, which is very uncomfortable for the horse. If the horse has lost one or more teeth, the other teeth can drift apart. Food may accumulate in the empty space, which can cause a bad smell and increase the risk of inflammation of the gums. In addition, the rough surface of the molars can be worn to such an extent that it becomes smooth and no longer grinds roughage properly. Feed that is not chewed well enough is less easily digested. Hence, the horse can’t optimally use the nutrients from the ration.
Older horses will then need an adjusted ration to get all the necessary nutrients. This is especially true in winter, as tender grass is easier to chew than hay or haylage. Old horses also make fewer chewing movements due to wear or loss of muscle strength in the jaw. As a result, the horse produces less saliva, so that the food passes through the gastrointestinal tract less well. It is extra important for old horses to be checked regularly by a certified equine dentist. For old horses, a check twice a year instead of annually is often advised.
My old pony is getting thinner
Senior mueslis, feeds and mashes often contain energy in the form of sugars and starch. This is not in line with the needs of old horses. Hartog Senior, (soaked) Hartog Grass Pellets and/or Hartog Lucerne Pellets are more fibre-rich options.
Feed for old thin horses
Hartog Senior is a complete, finely chopped roughage with a balancer. The balancer consists of vitamins, minerals, organically bound trace elements and amino acids. It is chopped even finer than Hartog Grass Mix, so that even horses with serious dental problems can still benefit from roughage. Hartog Senior offers the older horse energy from fatty acids such as linseed and a varied amino acid pattern.
