Senior Horses May Have Trouble Maintaining Weight

The capacity of the gastrointestinal tract to absorb nutrients becomes less efficient as horses age. Many older horses are unable to maintain acceptable body condition on a normal grain ration alone, so at this point adding a fat supplement into a senior’s diet becomes beneficial.

Fat is a concentrated energy source: it increases calorie consumption and improves body condition without having to feed large grain meals. A small meal size facilitates digestion. The more efficient the digestive tract becomes, the more nutrients a horse absorbs. Research has shown that high-fat diets reduce the risk of the metabolic disorders.

Older horses often need additional vitamin E and direct-fed microbials to remain in good condition. Natural vitamin E has the additional benefits of helping older horses maintain a robust immune system, and protect muscle and nerve cells from the oxidative stress that is part of aging. A healthy microbial population enhances digestibility and produces vitamins.

EndurExtra from Kentucky Performance Products is a high-fat supplement that contains a whopping 50 percent fat, along with direct-fed microbials and natural vitamin E. Since EndurExtra is concentrated, you can feed as little as eight ounces a day and get great results.

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