Care for Older Show Horses

by Boehringer Ingelheim / May 17, 2024

A women riding a brown horse as it jumps over a fence

Maintaining Older Show Horses

As horses age, they require more attention and care to maintain their health and well-being. This is particularly true for show horses that have dedicated their lives to competing in various events, and have years of regular “wear and tear” on their bodies. Maintaining an older show horse requires a combination of many things, like proper nutrition, exercise and medical care, among others.  

Nutrition

One thing to keep in mind when caring for an older show horse is to ensure they are getting proper nutrition. As horses age, their digestive system becomes less efficient, and they may not absorb nutrients as well as they did when they were younger.¹ This can lead to weight loss, muscle loss and a decrease in their overall composition. When a horse is not receiving proper nutrition, they can become unfit to compete and be at risk of injuries.

“Although weight loss can occur, weight gain can also be a cause for concern for many breeds, especially those predisposed to equine metabolic syndrome. With this syndrome, we can see high insulin levels, obesity and laminitis,” said Sarah Reuss, VMD, DACVIM, Equine Technical Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim. “An obese horse can be more prone to developing other health conditions, such as joint problems and inflammation.” 

In general, keep an eye on your horse’s weight, and be mindful about feeding them high-quality hay or pasture. If your horse has insulin dysregulation, feed should be low in sugar and starch (which may require restricting pasture access and/or soaking hay), and potentially higher in fat to maintain a healthy weight. Being mindful of the amount of protein and essential amino acids your horse is receiving can also help them to maintain healthy muscle. 

If your older horse is struggling to receive the proper nourishment they need, talk with your veterinarian or equine nutritionist, as they can work with you to develop a feeding program that supports their specific needs.  

Exercise 

Exercise is crucial for maintaining an older show horse’s physical health. However, it’s important to keep in mind that as horses age, they may have limitations, and require modifications to their exercise routine.  

“Regular, low-intensity exercise is ideal,” stressed Dr. Reuss. “Whether it’s under saddle or routine turnout, practicing regular flat work with lots of walking and trotting, all can help to maintain their baseline fitness, as well as joint and ligament health.”

Older horses’ routines can often be simplified, as they don’t need “training” as much as they need conditioning. Consider practicing certain behaviors less: if your horse is a jumper, maybe you only jump in preparation for a competition, or even only at the competition itself if the horse truly really knows its job.  

It’s also important to make sure your horse receives a proper warm-up prior to exercise and cool-down post exercise, including stretching, to prevent injuries.  

Medical Care 

For any performance horse, but especially our seasoned competitors, it’s important to have a full musculoskeletal exam at least once a year, in addition to regular veterinary check-ups. Regular dental care, vaccinations and fecal exams for parasite eggs are all crucial for preventing, identifying and treating these issues before they become more serious.

As any horse ages, they may develop age-related medical issues, such as dental problems, metabolic issues and musculoskeletal changes. But for show horses, the repetitive stress from training and competing can lead to minor damage in the horse’s joints that builds over time and may lead to equine osteoarthritis (OA).  

OA is a leading cause of lameness in horses and can affect any of the joints, including the hock, fetlock, pastern, coffin, stifle and carpus.²While OA can affect the quality of life of any horse, it can be especially challenging for horses that are still actively competing, as it can hinder their ability to perform at their previous levels.  

Using a clinically proven OA solution can help address this in horses.

LEGEND^® (hyaluronate sodium) is a joint dysfunction treatment that can decrease the presence of inflammatory mediators in the joint, improve joint fluid quality, and decrease lameness scores.³ 

“The benefit of intravenous LEGEND injectable solution is that it essentially signals all of the joints to make their own healthy joint fluid,” noted Dr. Reuss.

Work with your veterinarian to decide if intravenous LEGEND is right for your horse.  

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION 

The safety of LEGEND has not been evaluated in breeding stallions or in breeding, pregnant or lactating mares. The following adverse reactions have been reported following use of LEGEND Injectable Solution: Following intravenous use: occasional depression, lethargy and fever. LEGEND 4 mL and LEGEND Multi-Dose Injectable Solution are administered by intravenous injection only. 

Rest + Recovery 

Older show horses may require more recovery time than their younger counterparts. It’s important to provide them with a comfortable and safe environment to rest and recover after events or training sessions. Prolonged cool-outs as well as multiple opportunities to go for walks throughout the day become especially important for the older horse confined to a stall at a competition. 

Factoring in a horse’s competition load is important when evaluating their rest and recovery needs. Consider scaling back the number of divisions they are entered in to maximize their potential. Older horses may also appreciate more time in between shows to recuperate, especially if they are competing at a high level or in more demanding sports.

Caring for an older show horse requires a combination of many things. Proper nutrition, exercise, medical care and rest are just a few. It’s essential to consult with your veterinarian to develop an individualized care plan that takes into account the horse’s age, condition and limitations. With proper care and attention, older show horses can continue to compete and enjoy a high quality of life for years to come. 

REFERENCES 

¹American Association of Equine Practitioners, Older horse: special care & nutrition. Available at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/older-horse-special-care-nutrition. Accessed March 15, 2023.

²Boehringer Ingelheim. Managing and treating equine osteoarthritis. Available at https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.ca/en/animal-health-industry-blog/animal-health/managing-and-treating-equine-osteoarthritis. Accessed on March 15, 2023.

³Boehringer Ingelheim, Legend^®. Available at https://bi-animalhealth.com/equine/joint-health/legend. Accessed on March 15, 2023.

⁴LEGEND product label 