Dear Customer (name blocked for privacy),
I have a 33 year old QH gelding, also a picky eater. You are not doing anything wrong. As horses age, their digestive system does not function as it did when they were young. The microbe population is not as high and the internal production of Vitamin B and C is not what it once was, in addition to the less efficient digestion process. These factors alone make it more difficult for their bodies to utilize the nutrients going in.
As you may already know, older horses' kidneys do not function as well either, so it is better to steer away from Alfalfa hay, as it is much higher in calcium and protein content than grass hays. Offering a balanced senior diet and alternative fiber sources, like the beet pulp, are good. My horse eats Seminole Senior, but won't eat some of the other brands. You are taking the right approach with the diet you are offering.
Adding additional fat to the diet, in the way of corn or vegetable oils serves two purposes. It adds calories and often helps things pass with more ease. Rice bran, if they'll eat it, can be an additional option for adding some calories to the diet. Mine refuses to eat rice bran.
Feeding multiple meals, as you are doing, is a great idea, too.
There are some other health related issues to consider. If you've not had any blood work done on the horse recently, you may want to consider doing so. Screen him for Equine cushings (
http://cvm.msu.edu/news/press/0302b.htm) and thyroid dysfunction (hyperthyroidism much less common).
A complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry panel can also tell you a lot. There is a chance that your horse is suffering from a cancer such as lymphosarcoma (lymphoma) which isn't always readily evident and may show itself in the way of chronic wasting (weight loss).
Even though you've dewormed the horse, I'd also recommend that you have your veterinarian do a fecal exam to make sure that there are not any parasites present that the deworming didn't rid him of. Young horses can tolerate or handle a moderate parasite load, whereas, old horses can not.
Again, you are not doing anything wrong. You have provided the horse with a great life or he wouldn't have lived so long. You check his teeth, deworm, provide shelter and the right kinds of food. I think you, like me, need the assistance of veterinary medicine to get to the bottom of some things. However, the results you get may just confirm that he's an old horse and not as hearty as he once was.
I run blood work on my horse monthly.
Keep in mind, something I tell myself, after owning my 33 year old since he and I were both 5 years old: You are doing a great job, but no matter how great the care, you still can not stop time. Aging takes a huge toll on them and their systems do eventually wear out.
Again, my advice is to have your veterinarian screen for pituitary and thyroid dysfunction, as well as cancer. An overall physical (blood, fecal, urine) will be helpful in guiding you in giving the best care possible.
I hope this information has helped. If I had the ability to stop time, I'd do it for both of our horses. If I can answer any other questions or be of assistance, please let me know. Good luck.
Thank you
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Tonya Clauss, DVM, MS
