What if your (older) horse can no longer eat as easily?

You know how it is: you put down the food bowl, and normally it is empty in no time. But suddenly you notice that your horse takes longer to eat, leaves food behind or maybe even spills or makes lumps. Maybe you thought at first that he was just not as hungry, but when it happens more often, a light bulb goes on. What is going on?

1 March '25 - 2 min reading time

Why do older horses have more difficulty eating?

Older horses can have trouble eating for a number of reasons. One of the most common causes is their teeth. After years of chewing, their teeth wear down, hooks or sharp edges can develop, or teeth even fall out. So it makes sense that eating becomes more difficult! Another issue is digestion. As a horse ages, the absorption of nutrients decreases. Even if he still chews reasonably well, he can still lose weight or have less energy. Painful joints can also play a role – bending down to the food trough on the ground can simply not be as comfortable anymore.

But what if a younger horse is difficult to eat?

When we think of bad eating, we often think of older horses, but this does not have to be the case. Younger horses can also have problems with eating. Horses that are changing teeth, for example, or that have an abnormality in their teeth. It is also possible that the horse has stomach and/or intestinal problems that cause it to eat poorly. Stress can be a cause and there are more physical and mental aspects that can cause bad eating.

How can you help your horse?

Fortunately, there is a lot you can do to help your (senior) horse:

• Check your teeth regularly – A visit to the dentist can prevent or solve many problems. This is really the basis for bad eating! First rule out physical problems with your teeth.

• Veterinarian check-up – If the horse is still eating poorly after the dentist, have a veterinarian come out to rule out any other physical problems.

• Adjust the food – Choose food that is easy to chew and digest, such as mash, soaked grass pellets or senior food.

• Provide adequate fiber – Older horses may have difficulty chewing hay. Soaked grass pellets or alfalfa can be a good substitute.

• Pay attention to the condition – Is the horse losing weight? Then supplement with extra proteins

• Monitor eating behavior – Is he nibbling more slowly? Is he dropping food? These could be signs that something is going on.

  
  

Conclusion: make adjustments where necessary!

An older horse may need some extra care, but with the right adjustments he can stay healthy and happy for years to come. By intervening in time and giving him what he needs, you ensure that he can still enjoy his food. But you also have to stay alert with younger horses, they can also lose weight quickly. Adjust the training if necessary, adjust the food and consult a vet or nutritional advice if problems persist.