Question

My 34-year-old mare has begun to lose weight with the onset of autumn. She is eating 2.5 lb (1.1 kg) of senior feed twice a day plus pasture 24 hours a day. What do you suggest?

Answer

Are you providing supplemental hay? Pasture quality and availability is on the decline this time of year and may explain your mare’s recent weight loss. If your mare can’t chew and utilize long-stem hay very well, then forage alternatives such as hay cubes or pellets, which can be soaked, should be offered instead of or in addition to hay.

These processed forages have a shorter fiber length and are high in digestible fiber, making them suitable for older horses and those with dental issues. In addition to maximizing the forage portion of the diet, an increase in senior feed may be needed to meet energy demands for weight gain. Compared to what they ate as younger horses, some seniors require larger amounts of feed to maintain body weight due to age-related changes in digestion and metabolism.

If you have not already done so, have a veterinarian give the mare a health checkup, including a thorough examination of her teeth and oral cavity. Double-check that the mare’s parasite control program is on target, which might require an inexpensive fecal egg count by the veterinarian.