SPILLERS: Managing dental issues in senior dressage horses
There is a saying that horses survive as long as their teeth, and this is certainly true in the wild! In a domestic setting, however, dental issues—including lost or worn teeth, diastemas (gaps between the teeth), inflamed gums, and even arthritis of the jaw—are among the main reasons for weight loss in older horses.
For senior dressage horses, maintaining optimal condition is essential to keep them comfortable and able to perform light work, if appropriate. Dental problems can also lead to choke, loose droppings, and colic. While some issues can be resolved, others require careful management, often involving replacing some or all of the long fibre (hay, haylage, and grazing) in the diet with a hay replacer.
Time for a check up?
All horses should have their teeth checked regularly by a vet or equine dental technician, but older horses—especially those still in work—may need more frequent attention. Between visits, look out for signs of pain or difficulty chewing, including:
- Weight loss
- Quidding (dropping partially chewed food)
- Digestive issues such as colic, choke, and loose droppings
- Reluctance or refusal to eat
- Bad breath
- Obvious pain or discomfort when eating or favouring one side
- Facial swellings
- Long fibre, whole cereal grains, or partially/undigested feed in droppings
- Reluctance to accept the bit and/or changes in ridden behaviour
Senior horses may have sensitive teeth!
If you suffer from sensitive teeth, the last thing you want to do is tuck into an ice cream! Similarly, sensitive teeth can make older horses reluctant to drink, increasing their risk of dehydration and colic. Try adding hot water to buckets to take the chill off and using warm water to soak cubes and mashes—this can be particularly beneficial for horses that need to maintain muscle tone and hydration for continued training.
Tips for choosing a hay replacer
For senior dressage horses that struggle with long fibre, selecting the right hay replacer is key to ensuring they maintain condition while still supporting digestive health.
- Where possible, include at least some short chopped fibre or ‘chaff’ to help increase chewing time—this supports gastric health and mental well-being.
- Short chopped fibres may be unsuitable for horses with diastemas.
- Horses and ponies with very poor teeth may need 100% of their diet replaced with a mash—this may mean feeding 11-12kg of hay replacer per day (unsoaked weight) to a 500kg horse, sometimes more!
- Choose feeds low in sugar and starch for those at risk of laminitis.
- Avoid grass-based products for laminitics, as they may be high in water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) or ‘sugar.’
- Not all short chopped fibres, ‘chaffs,’ fibre cubes, and mashes are suitable as full hay replacers—always read feeding instructions carefully and consult a nutrition advisor if you need advice.
Tips for feeding a hay replacer
- Introduce new feeds gradually.
- 1kg (dry weight) of a hay replacer can replace 1kg of unsoaked hay.
- Ideally, divide hay replacers into at least four meals for horses without grazing.
- Weigh new feeds at least once—horses should be fed by weight, not volume!
- Some horses learn to regulate their intake, but small, frequent meals and dividing rations between multiple buckets can encourage ‘grazing.’
- Consider separating horses fed hay replacers from their companions at mealtimes to prevent bullying or sharing.
- Check whether your chosen hay replacer contains added vitamins and minerals—you may not need to feed a balancer or supplement on top.
Soaked feeds and mashes for senior horses
Many cubes or pellets can be soaked to make a mash, but quick-soaking feeds such as SPILLERS Senior Super-Mash or SPILLERS Speedy-Mash Fibre may be more convenient. Regardless of the feed you choose, always weigh it before soaking—the increase in volume can make it easy to overestimate how much you are feeding!
- Avoid soaking feeds in advance, especially in hot weather when fermentation can occur.
- Quick-soaking varieties are ideal in warmer temperatures, ensuring freshness.
- If using a mash that requires a longer soaking time, keep it covered and in a cool, dark place in summer.
