Horse

The unique needs of individual horses—of any age—vary based on genetics, management, lifestyle, and overall health. Generally, horses beyond 15–20 years old often face some of the following physiological challenges: Digestion slows down. Older horses may not absorb nutrients as efficiently, meaning their diet needs to be more nutrient-dense to prevent weight loss and nutritional deficiencies or imbalances. Changes in manure consistency, like diarrhea and other digestive issues, are common. Metabolism shifts. Some senior horses lose weight easily, while others gain weight due to reduced activity levels and metabolic problems. Dental needs change. Worn or missing teeth make chewing hay and other rough forage more difficult, directly contributing to both weight loss and painful dental issues. Some signs of dental problems include quidding (dropping feed while eating) and weight loss. Energy levels can decrease with age—but not always. Some signs that your aging horse may need a diet adjustment include: Noticeable weight or muscle loss Trouble eating Declining energy levels Various digestive issues (diarrhea, colic) Recognizing these signs early allows you to adapt your horse’s nutrition before problems start impacting their health, welfare, and longevity. ,Once a horse reaches 15 years old, they’re typically considered a senior—and with that comes a new set of nutritional needs. As horses age, their bodies undergo changes that directly affect how they process food, maintain weight, and absorb vital nutrients. Feeding your senior horse the right food can help support your equine companion’s evolving needs, potentially helping extend their longevity. This guide to senior horse feed will help you accomplish just that.

Horse

August 3, 2025

By Amanda-Jo King, DVM

Horse Cribbing

WRITTEN BYAmanda-Jo King, DVM Veterinarian Amanda-Jo King DVM is a native Floridian and has always fostered a love for animals great and small. Veterinary medicine was not always her…,What Is Horse Cribbing? Cribbing is a behavior exhibited by horses in which they grasp onto a solid object with their incisors (front teeth), contract their neck, and pull back, while simultaneously sucking air into their esophagus. They often make a characteristic grunting sound during this process. Cribbing is categorized as a stereotypical behavior, which is a behavior that is an apparently functionless, repetitive activity. Other stereotypical behaviors include stall-pacing, weaving, pawing, and headshaking. Other names for cribbing include “crib-biting” and “windsucking.” Cribbing behavior is well-documented in domestic horses, occurring in 5-15% of the general horse population. The rate of occurrence varies by breed. The frequency of cribbing in Thoroughbreds is close to 15%, Arabians closer to 6%, and Standardbreds almost 0%. These breed differences may support the notion that there is a genetic component to cribbing; however, a specific gene has not been detected. Cribbing has also been seen in wild horses, like the Przewalski horses, when they are kept in captivity, but it has not been observed in wild, free-ranging horses. Is Cribbing Harmful to Horses? Cribbing can lead to a handful of unwanted side effects. Horses that crib may be at an increased risk for colic and gastric ulcers, though an exact cause-and-effect relationship has not been established. Horses that crib tend to lose weight and have an overall poor body condition. This is because they spend a large portion of their time and energy on this functionless behavior. Cribbing causes excessive wear on a horse’s teeth. However, in only the most severe cases does it cause detriment to the horse. Other adverse effects include: Development of abnormal neck musculature Arthritis in the temporohyoid joint Damage to property the horse cribs on (i.e., stalls, water/feed troughs) Negative stigma around horses that crib—it used to be thought that one horse will learn to crib by watching another horse crib, but this has not been proven