Senior Feed

[rocky]

What Senior food do you feed and why do you like it???Thanks

[NanciK]

TDI Senior. Less sugar, same nutritive value. Does not make the TBs more hyper than they already are.

Cheaper than Purina Equine Senior.

[ljbrooks]

Hey Rocky. I use Purina Senior, but have tried others with good success as well.

I like Purina because it's a complete feed (most Seniors are, I think), it seems to be more consistent in type/quality and my horses love it. It is a sweeter feed though. I haven't noticed any of mine getting hyped up, but then I don't have a TB anymore either.

I usually add Horse Kwik or Packer Pellets too, if I'm trying to get weight on. They are a complete feed that my hubby takes hunting (so they don't have to locate certified weed-free hay ). I like to make them into a mash and put the HorseGuard, oil, etc. in there. It's easier for the old guys to eat and it's complete. Packer pellets come in large (think horse treat) size and smaller (think rabbit food) size. I use the large pellets as treats sometimes and my horses that don't get that as part of their ration think they are FAB!

Of course there is the ubiquitous rice bran and beet pulp if you are adding weight to an old guy, but I don't think you need to add any more weight, do you?

What are you feeding him now? Inquiring minds want to know. ;D

MTA: I would like to try TDI Senior if NanciK likes it. I haven't seen it around. Where do you get it Nanci?

[rocky]

Lisa PM

[rescuestoribbons]

I feed mine Purina equine senoir. Why because it keeps my horse going but not going to much and keeps his weight on!

[mkgbuegel]

Recently switched from purina senior to elk grove reg. & senior. Love it. Contemplated & researched the product for months. Very happy with the switch. Much less sugar, seems very palatable (they eat it up), no corn, and so so so much less expensive. The 250lb barrels are 45 to 55.00. 250lbs of purina senior runs me about 70.00. My horses have responded well so far, they have been getting it for about a month now.

[wendyp]

Purina Senior - because it's the one she will eat! Since she's 36 years old, I guess it isn't hurting her!

WendyP/Bend, OR

[rocky]

WOW 36!!!!!!

[rescuestoribbons]

WOW that is really old! The oldest pony just died.... 56!!!

[clayandjill]

I only have experience with Purina Equine Senior.

I really think it is a quality feed, and my old guy put on weight rather quickly, and his coat is oh so shiney.

I chose this feed because it was recommended by our local vetrinarian.

[lilypondfarm]

My horse Molly was on John Lyons Senior and Life Design Senior. She died this year at 36! Never, ever had a bad day in her life!

[rocky]

Thanks to all!!

[shelberttk2]

I used to feed Merit Senior until it went up to $15.00 a bag, then switched to Equis Senior. Equis is only $9.25 a bag and my horses are doing great on it! I feed extruded soy to some, Horse guard, MSM, Glucosamine, flax, and Thyro L to my fatty. My fatty is on LMF Super Supplement. I also feed Beet pulp and rice bran to some.....

[rocky]

Great Info!!

[cutiepiepmu]

FYI on the Purina Equine senior- the starch content of this feed is actuall HIGHER than an all grain based sweet feed. This can be really horrible for older horses who will in general have some degree of Insulin Resistance as they age. I do agree - it will pack on the pounds - but what purina does NOT disclose on the label anymore is that it has animal fat in it not just vegitable fats. For years, it listed it directly on the label - however the most recent label does not list this - and when speaking to reps from teh company about it they deny it is in there - but private test samples show it does have animal fat in it.

For complete senior feeds I generally recommend feeding either Nutrena Life Design Senior - which has an overall low starch content with the majority being made up of dry fats and fiber product, or LMF Low Carb options secondly.

HOWEVER - In my experience senior horses overall do very well on a diet that consists of beet pulp, hay pellets(both of which are soaked) and a very good multivitamin/mineral supplement with acces to a good free choice mineral like ADM StaySTrong which is the follow up to the GroStrong mineral. Adding things like Ground Flax, BOSS and a Probiotic is also a very good idea.

While there is a certain ease of feeding in a single product that is manufactured - I feel you end up causing the horse to lack in certain minerals/nutrient needs. No matter how well a single product is manufactured - it is designed to feed the masses - not the individual. So, it is important ot know your area, know the specs of your forage and know what your horse may be lacking in those feeds so that you can fill the short comings. Especially as a horse ages, it is extremely important to keep the overall starch content lower to help avoid metobolic issues.

Just my thoughts

Sara in WA

[crum]

I'll second the recommendation for the Nutrena Senior. My older horses did wonderfully on it. Also the neighbor had a pony who had started refusing to eat a variety of the other senior feeds and she was willing to eat the Nutrena.

Purina Senior definitely still has animal fat. I found a website earlier this spring that contains feed analysis for various feeds and the animal fat is listed for the Purina. Some of the farnam feed supplements intended to help hair/hooves still have animal fat in them as well I discovered. If I can find the bookmark for it when I get home I'll post it.

For Lilly, who is 25, I'm feeding her a mixture I put together of alfalfa pellets, soybean oil and a vitamin supplement that includes a probiotic instead of a complete feed. This mixture makes it easier for me to adjust the various components depending on her body condition without worrying about the status of her vitamin intake as much. The oil is also a nice addition because it softens the pellets so they are easier for her to eat.

modified to add you should see the blank, vacant looks you get from feed representatives when you ask which of their complete feeds they would recommend for a 25 year old draft horse who may/may not have EPSM ;D

[rodeo51]

I use to feed the Alagria Senior to Katey, but last year Purina did something to it and it became super high in Molassas and very sticky. Kateys feet started growing fast in the toe, so I switched to Nutrina Senior Life Design and Katey is doing so much better on it.

[cutiepiepmu]

Crum - That sounds like a perfect diet IMO. The only thing I personally would add at all is ground flaxseed and if the horse had trouble holding weight I would most likely add some soaked beet pulp w/o molassess in it! Also - if you find she is getting stiff at all - try switching the alfalfa pellets to a Timothy hay pellet... Might make a difference!

Rodeo - Last year when purina changed the formula for the Allegra Lines - some of those feeds also had animal fat added in. That is one of the reasons you saw the molasses intake go up - it is one of the ways that they make it more palitable for the horses after adding the animal fats to it.
Glad your kid is doing well on the life design

Sara

[watermarkfarm]

I've had good luck with mixing either grass hay pellets or a low-carb senior pelleted feed (for the cushings/IR types) with rice bran. I add a very small handful of alfalfa/molasses to it for flavor, and even the really fussy oldies gobble it up. Those with good teeth get it dry, those with no teeth get it in a big soup. It's easy and I can streamline my meal making process!

This ends up being quite a bit cheaper than Senior, and easier on them since it's much lower in carbs.

I was at the big vet clinic yesterday with my 21 year old TB, and even then when I mentioned I give him about 2 pounds a day of Senior.....they frowned at me and told me to get him off of it because it is so loaded with sugar.

Katie

[pikzeedust]

LMF Senior