27/09/2025
๐ซถ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฒ๐พ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ซถ
With winter approaching, now is an ideal time to make sure your older horses and donkeys are healthy, comfortable and have a good quality of life leading into the colder weather. Have a read of some of the checks we recommend your golden oldies have over the coming months. If you have any concerns or want a thorough check over, then you can also make use of our Veteran MOT package (horses aged 15+), to get an in depth look at their health and wellbeing!
We would also love to see some photos of your Veteran equines in the comments below! โค๏ธ
โ๏ธ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป:
โข This is easy to keep an eye on at home with a weight tape or body condition scoring chart.
โข We recommend assessing at least once a month throughout the year, especially after any dietary changes.
โข If you are wanting a more accurate weight, we have a portable weigh bridge available.
๐ฆท ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ต:
โข Dental checks should be performed at least once or twice a year by a vet or qualified dentist. This will make sure they can cope with dietary changes, especially as long fibre/hay intake may increase in the winter.
โข Poor dentition can lead to a lot of issues including weight loss, choke, chronic pain and impaction colic.
โข Make sure to watch how your horse eats and look for any signs of dropping/balling up food (quidding), weight loss, abnormal chewing and bad breath.
๐ฆด ๐ ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐๐๐ฒ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐:
โข It's important to regularly observe your horse's movement.
โข Make sure to take note of how easy or difficult they find getting up from lying down and if they in fact do lie down.
โข Horses with chronic orthopaedic pain may not lie down as they experience discomfort when then trying to get up.
โข If you notice any changes then assessment by a vet is advised to see how we can help.
๐ฉธ ๐๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐:
โข Clinical signs: Weight loss, retained winter coat, curly coat, increased drinking and urination, muscle wastage, abnormal fat deposits, lethargy, recurrent infections and laminitis.
โข This can be diagnosed by measuring ACTH levels in the blood. Either with a basal ACTH or TRH stimulation test, upon discussion with a vet.
โข Horses with Cushings may have an exaggerated seasonal rise in ACTH in the autumn, making it an ideal time to test, although we can test at any time of the year.
๐ฃ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐:
โข Regular farriery is essential to balance feet, treat cracks, prevent abscesses and keep your horse mobile and comfortable.
โข The saying "no foot, no horse" applies to those that are retired too!
๐ชฑ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด:
โข Very young and old horses may struggle with high worm burdens.
โข Gone are the days of blanket worming, with no new wormers in production we must use them carefully as to not encourage resistance.
โข Faecal worm egg counts (FWEC) in the grazing season are advised to assess if worming is needed.
โข In the winter small redworms will become encysted in the gut and not show up on a FWEC, but levels can be detected on a blood sample. Using this and a risk assessment by a vet, we can assess the need for winter worming.
โข Tapeworm testing on saliva or blood can be performed twice a year.
๐ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐:
โข We advise even retired horses to keep up with their vaccinations for Influenza and Tetanus.
โข With age their immunity may decline, and make them more susceptible to infection and prolong recovery.
โฃ๏ธ ๐ค๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ (๐ค๐ข๐):
โข To monitor your horse's QOL you can keep a diary of good vs bad days, or regularly fill out the BHS QOL questionnaire (link below).
โข If you notice any significant decline in your horse's quality of life it can be beneficial to speak to a vet to discuss any concerns you have.
โข When that time comes to consider making the heartbreaking decision to let your beloved family member go, rest assured that we are always here to offer support and guidance.
โข The links below offer further information on monitoring QOL and pet bereavement support.
https://www.bhs.org.uk/horse-care-and-welfare/health-care-management/quality-of-life/
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-loss-support
https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/advice/equine-end-of-life?srsltid=AfmBOoooNjpfbUTw6jBQqJ3sff1Wby-SHCygkHhmV-Q3_WOVvYX8WCTc
