Senior horses can continue to have happy, healthy careers with proper joint care and treatment. Photo: Leslie Potter"Oh, the old gray mare, she ain't what she used to be.”If the songwriter who penned this old folk tune knew anything...
Most people assume vision problems are a given when it comes to aging. Rare is the older person who gets by without glasses or contacts. In elderly dogs, failing eyesight and even complete blindness are common.
Equines, however, are another...
Ever hear of curcumin? It’s the active ingredient in the spice, turmeric, which has been used for centuries in Indian cooking, as well as in Ayurvedic medicine. It exhibits anti-oxidant properties (neutralizing damaging free radicals), and has been used...
Cushing’s syndrome (hyperadrenocorticism)
What it is: Cushing's, now called Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), is a disease caused by a benign tumor in the pituitary gland, which controls the entire endocrine system. It usually occurs in older horses but occasionally...
Q: I recently began leasing a 20-year-old mare. She’s a sweetheart, but she hasn’t been in regular work for about three years. I can only ride about once a week and while there is plenty of space to trail...
Q: I own three geldings and one mare. My geldings are all sound and can be ridden, but my mare, who is 18 years old, has some nerve damage in one leg and can’t really be ridden anymore. Are...
Q:
My mare is now 30 years old, and I'm starting to worry about her health,
especially going into winter. Everyone tells me that I’ll know when "her time”
is getting close, but HOW will I know? Is there anything I should...
The time to retire a senior horse can become a combination of finances and the horse’s welfare. There are monetary obligations involved in keeping a senior horse with osteoarthritis going. Most seniors will likely require injections of at least...
Are you horse shopping? Then take a moment to consider the benefits of an older horse. Providing it’s trained, serviceably sound and of the right temperament, an older horse allows you to enjoy your time in the saddle without...
Older horses still have a lot to offer a rider, but often they’re discounted as being past their prime. It’s understandable for someone to be wary of a horse whose retirement to greener pastures may not be too far...
