Senior Horse Care in Winter

 
Give your senior horse a very gradual warmup if you ride him in the winter. This lets achy joints slowly work out the stiffness before asking for faster gaits or collection. 
The weather outside might be frightful but that doesnt mean you cant try your best to make the winter season delightful for your senior horse. Here are some tips for senior horse care in winter to help your older equine keep weight on and stay comfortable into the new year.
Weight Woes
One of the most common winter health issues for senior horses is weight loss. This is generally for two primary reasons.

First teeth. As a horse ages his molars wear down through constant grinding during grazing. These large flat teeth that lie far back along his cheeks can begin to wear unevenly over the years creating sharp painful points that cause sores on the tongue and inside of the cheek. Uneven wear can also cause jaw pain and inefficient chewing. Some older horses may even lose teeth which creates gaps where clumps of food become stuck. All of these issues can prevent an older horse from consuming enough calories to maintain his body weight.
The second most common reason older horses lose weight in the winter is their overall metabolism. As animals age they lose muscle mass and their cellular systems slow down. This means it takes more energy to keep them warm when the temperature drops. If a horse needs more energy to stay warm but cant eat enough because his teeth hurt you guessed it this creates a perfect situation for weight loss.
The first step for senior horse care in winter to help keep his weight up during the cold is to make sure his teeth are in good condition. If your vet hasnt already been out for a visit recently ask her to conduct a dental exam on your horse. This will give her a chance to file down any sharp points that have formed and manage any other issues your horses mouth may have.
The Right Diet
Once the teeth are managed the next step in senior horse care is ensuring a highquality healthy diet. Always be sure your senior horse has access to highquality hay during the winter months.
Allow your senior access to as much highquality hay as possible in winterthe fiber will generate heat inside the gut as it digests helping keep your golden oldie nice and toasty. Photo by Steve MannShutterstock
Most older equines should be allowed to eat as much forage as they want in the winter. The neat thing about forage is that the digestion of this highly fibrous material actually generates some heat in the horses gutthis acts like your horses own personal internal heating system!
Apart from forage think about grain. If your senior horse currently eats some grain as part of his