Equine Senior vs Equine Senior Active

Purina equine feeds have been on the top of the market since 1894, and Equine Senior is one of their, and our, most popular products. But, did you know there is also a formulation of Equine Senior that was developed for working horses? Equine Senior Active horse feed was developed for horses that continue to work into their senior years. This feed may be a more appropriate choice for many of your equine friends; however, it continues to be widely unheard of.

Unlike Equine Senior, which is a complete feed developed for horses that may have problems with digestion, poor body condition, or be lacking teeth, Equine Senior Active is meant for horses that are consuming hay. Because of this, Equine Senior is lower in calories and contains forage, whereas Equine Senior Active has higher calories and is meant to be fed with hay. Equine Senior Active feed contains higher levels of lysine, fat, calcium, phosphorous, copper, selenium, and zinc to support working senior horses. Conversely, Equine Senior has higher levels of vitamins A and E to support the immune system of our aging equine friends.

The feeding rates recommended by Purina were developed for horses on high-quality grass hay or pasture. When feeding alfalfa, like so many of us do in California, reduce the amount of supplemental feed by ½ to 1 pound daily. When feeding Equine Senior with hay, reduce the amount of feed given by 1 pound for every 2-3 pounds of hay. Clean water and salt should be available at all times.

For more information on Purina Equine Diets please visit Purina Mills.

*Always consult your veterinarian before making any changes to your horse’s diet. Any changes to your horses feed should be made gradually over a period of 7-10 days.