🧓 Vet Nutrition 2025: Do Older Horses Digest Nutrients Differently? 🐴🍽️

Author: Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

As horses age, it’s natural to wonder if their digestive system slows down or becomes less efficient—just like in humans. But a recent study gives horse owners encouraging news: healthy senior horses digest nutrients just as well as their younger companions. In this 2025 update, Dr Duncan Houston reviews the research and explains when diet changes really are necessary. 🧬🐎

🧠 What the Research Shows

A study of 17 stock-type mares ranging from 5 to 28 years of age evaluated digestibility across various diets. All horses were:

• 🐛 Dewormed
• 🦷 Free from significant dental disease
• 🍽️ Fed one of three diets: hay only, hay + starch/sugar concentrate, hay + fat/fiber concentrate

The researchers measured nutrient absorption by analyzing feces and urine. Results were published by Kentucky Equine Research. 📊

📈 Key Findings

There was no difference in digestibility between younger and older horses when they were healthy. Specifically, there was no decline in the absorption of:

• 🔥 Energy
• 🌿 Neutral detergent fiber (NDF)
• 🥩 Crude protein
• 🧈 Fat
• 🧪 Calcium and phosphorus

This means age alone does not necessitate a diet change—as long as the horse is in good health. ✅

🦷 When Age *Does* Matter: Dental Health

While digestion stays strong, dental health often declines with age. Missing teeth, uneven chewing surfaces, or "cupped out" molars make it difficult for older horses to properly break down long-stem forage. Signs your horse may need a senior diet include:

• 🐴 Quidding (spitting out chewed hay)
• 💩 Undigested feed or long fibers in manure
• 📉 Weight loss despite good appetite

Senior feeds are often designed as complete feeds—soft, easily chewed, and nutritionally balanced. 🥣

🧠 Dr Duncan Houston’s Advice

"Don’t change your horse’s diet just because they’ve had another birthday. Look at condition, appetite, dental health, and fecal quality—not the number." 🐴📆

✅ Feeding Tips for Older Horses

• 🌿 Stick with forage-first feeding if teeth allow
• 🧂 Add senior feed only when chewing becomes a concern
• 🧬 Monitor for weight loss or changes in manure consistency
• 🦷 Schedule regular dental exams every 6–12 months
• 🧫 Keep up with deworming and parasite testing

🩺 When to Consider a Senior Feed

Senior feeds may be appropriate when:

• 🦷 Teeth are missing, worn, or causing discomfort
• 📉 Weight loss is noted despite adequate intake
• 💩 Chewed hay is found in manure or on the ground

Many senior horses thrive with a balanced mix of soaked feed, chopped forage, and complete pellets tailored to their needs. 🍽️

🔚 Final Thoughts: Feed the Horse, Not the Birthday

Age doesn't always equal decline. If your older horse is in good health and has functional teeth, there's no reason to change their diet just because they’re aging. Let veterinary assessments guide your feeding—not the calendar. 🐎❤️

Need a custom diet review for your senior horse? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app for personalized equine nutrition advice. 📱🥕