This article has appeared previously with Equestrian Life. To see what's in our latest issue, click here.

It comes to us all - a time when advancing age takes its toll and manifests in a range of physical ailments and needs. Our horses are no different, but we often overlook some very special requirements that can ensure they continue to live a happy and useful life.

By Jane O'Connor // Photos by Living Legends 

When the team at Living Legends arrives at work, they know that in terms of having done the hard yards and earning a comfortable retirement, their charges have 'been there and done that'. Each individual has its own quirks and characteristics, requires a specific feeding regime and they know the paddock occupants so well they will rapidly spot any specific problems.

These are no ordinary retirees, but some of Australia's most noted racehorses - Melbourne and Caulfield Cup winners, multi-million dollar stayers who have won a place at Living Legends - the beautiful property near Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport where the public can literally pat an industry icon. The not-for-profit's facility has the motto that when their work finishes, 'our work begins'.

With a wide range of ages amongst the residents, there isn't much grooms Louise Gleisberg, Shari Brown or Danielle Muskett  and veterinarian, Dr Andrew Clarke, don't deal with on an ongoing basis with ageing horses. And, it isn't much different to the requirements of any ageing horse, whether they are still being ridden, have been acquired as a paddock companion or as a quiet starter for a new or novice rider.  

If we bear in mind that horses left to free range in the wild don't generally reach an old age, as they are affected by deteriorating teeth and competition for food. But, advances in veterinary science and our ability to provide constant care means domesticated horses can live a happy life for a decade or more longer than their feral cousins. It is through close attention to feeding, tooth and hoof care and any health issues caused by ageing or a lifetime of work that will extend their lives. Your ageing equine may not have won more than $5 million on the racetrack, but the 'legends' currently residing here are a great example of the type of care you are facing. Most racing Thoroughbreds have been retired before they are six years old. Many are rehomed and go on to other disciplines, but the new owner may have scant knowledge of how much intensive work and training they may have done before leaving the track. The same applies to horses that have been used intensively in other disciplines, or even taken out on the trail regularly. 

The main considerations for the owner of an ageing horse are:

Nutrition - Older horses, but especially Thoroughbreds, will need good rugs and extra feed in winter to keep warm and maintain body weight. Starting from basics the 'legends' are given free access to as much roughage by way of good quality grass hay as they want. Getting enough roughage is important not the least being in preventing colic. But, a supplementary feed will be needed as pasture alone is unlikely to deliver the full nutritional requirements. A high protein conditioning product can often be beneficial. The track stars here are fed Mitavite products with Gumnuts the most used.  There are a range of 'senior' feeds on the market, so it's a case of what works best for the individual, combined with cost, the time to prepare the feed and what they contain. It is critical not to guess, but to be vigilant about weighing out the right amounts once you have determined what keeps your older horse on an even keel.

Know the ideal weight of your horse as the supplementary feed will need to be adjusted. Living Legends has its own set of scales and all horses are regularly weighed. Each horse is different and when they go from being highly active to retired, some can put on weight a lot easier than others. Another benefit of regularly weighing horses is that it is a way of picking up early signs of medical problems, says Dr Clarke.  Nutrition apart there are other health reasons why older horses may rapidly lose or gain condition. Hormonal changes may affect body condition, hair growth, appetite and energy levels.  Don’t forget regular worming as parasite control is as important for older horses as it is for their younger counterparts.

Given that we don't all have the equipment to weigh our horses a simple solution for the average owner can be to take a monthly photo of your horse. It will quickly become obvious as to whether they are looking better or worse than a month ago.  You may also like to ask a more experienced horse owner for some guidance, but with any sudden weight loss or changes in behavior the best approach is to call your vet sooner rather than later. Apart from having its own vet, Living Legends also has the back up support of the team of veterinarians at Flemington Equine Centre with blood testing services donated by Vepalabs

Fields of Omagh winning hearts with a nursing home visit.

Joint Health - Any horse that has had a life of being ridden, whether for leisure or sport, has done some hard work. Like humans, this can show up by way of stiff or sore joints. The key is to look for the signals in the way they move and this is about observing the horse constantly. If you have acquired a horse that is middle aged or older then joint problems may be easier to spot. But, just as we try to use preventative supplements, the same applies to the equine friend. Dr Clarke says that it is important to look beyond the packaging, make sure that products are backed up with the appropriate research and quality control, we use an Interpath product called 4Cyte . Ask your vet for a recommendation to ensure the right supplements are being used.

Hoof Care - This is an automatic need for any horse and the same general six to eight week timescale still applies to most older horses too. But, the powers of observation again become vital for  each horse, as will their history and what they have been used for in their lifetime and how well hoof care has been applied can create individual care issues. For instance, Chief de Beers not only had 20 track wins, but went on to become the Govenor of Queensland's police horse for more than a decade. The racing legends are all barefoot trimmed and this is increasingly common practice for older horses. But, you may find that once shoes are left off then times in between trimming may be shortened to five weeks, hooves may crack more and you may need to be rigid about that timing. A good farrier will advise on the best regime. A well trimmed, balanced hoof is as important for an older retired horse as it is for a younger competition horse. Also, don't assume that because an aged equine has been turned out to pasture and is no longer ridden or worked that hoof care will somehow diminish.

Groom Louise Gleisberg with one of her ageing charges. 

Teeth -  Regular trips to the dentist are part and parcel of getting older. Indeed older horses have their own set of dental problems not seen in younger horses. Chewing is the first important step in the digestion of food to ensure that horses get the most out of their food. Dropping of food from the mouth can be a sign of dental problems. A prevention is better than cure approach is taken at Living Legends and Dr Shannon a veterinarian with specialist training in dentistry takes care of the legends’ teeth.  Dr Shannon provides a lot of valuable information on his website www.advancedequinedentistry.com.au.

Companions and Adoptees - There is no shortage of people who want to save an ex-racer or pick up an ageing horse as a paddock companion. Louise and Shari are used to visitors to Living Legends asking where they can get one. The reality is that they can often be found cheaply at sales or acquired through rehoming groups. But, the key motivator should be to determine exactly why you want a Thoroughbred - or any other older horse - in your paddock. They still have a great deal to give, whether it's as a gentle mount for a child to learn with or as a 'schoolmaster' for a new or returning adult rider. But, it must be understood that they will require some specific care. Older horses for example can be particularly prone to Equine Cushings Syndrome, orthopaedic and dental problems.

If it is a paddock companion you are after for other horses, then Shari points out that older horses become lower in the pecking order and can be bullied. Often, the companion horse is overlooked. It has been brought in to keep a riding horse company. But, depending on how many others it has to compete with and the personalities of those individuals, it may be missing out on food through lack of aggression or the fact that older horses often eat a lot slower. It isn't just a case of getting one and assuming it will work. The individual personalities have to be taken into account.

Rogan Josh at Launch 2012 Melb Cup Tour.

Riding and Rugging -  The tack you already have may not be suitable for an ageing equine. Things 'go south' and the older horse will show a prominent wither and 'dippy' back. These can be hard to saddle fit, so don't assume any old saddle will do if you intend riding it. Whether to rug them is also an individual requirement. Some will happily live without rugs all Winter. Even those that do like to be rugged must be checked very regularly. If your older horse is doing little else but eating, or has the occasional slow trot down the road, then constant checking is vital. There could be an unpleasant surprise if it is unrugged after too long and the high body heat has caused the horse to drop a lot of weight or in other individuals, put a great deal on.  Rugs left on can also cause painful rubbing, especially if they are too heavy for an older horse. Judge the climate where you live and use rugging accordingly, combined with the individual's needs. 

Still working - The horses at Living Legends are no longer ridden, but they still perform a range of public relations tasks. The facility relies on donations, sponsorships and bequests to do its work, so if the public can't make it to their retirement home, then they do a series of public appearances. They've done their time under saddle. But, they go back to the races, for Melbourne Cup parades. The legends enjoy their days out as it provides stimulation. They appear at corporate events, schools and nursing homes. A big hit on nursing home visits is Fields of Omagh - affectionately known as Foo. In 2006, as a nine year old, he ran his fifth successive Cox Plate and sits fourth on the list of all time stake earners in Victoria at $6.5 million. These days, he's more into winning hearts. 

Further information: www.livinglegends.org.au

This article first appeared in Issue 14 of Equestrian Life. To see what is in the current issue, click here. 

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