Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, January 25, 2016
Page A-9
The Farrier’s Corner: by Ray and Michelle Smith
Geriatric horses in
winter
This article focuses on two
things common in the Valley
this winter, old horses and cold
weather. Geriatric horses are
high maintenance under any
circumstances. Cold weather only
increases care requirements.
How old is “old”? Much
like people, it depends on the
individual. Genetics, work history,
past care, injuries and medical
conditions all contribute to the
equine aging process. Some 25 year
old horses are more robust than
hard used younger horses. There
is no particular age when horses
become “old” however, horses
in their late teens and onward are
generally considered aged.
To start, it is important to
determine your horse’s condition.
One means of doing this is to
determine the animal’s Body
Condition Score (BCS). The BCS
is a numerical scoring system
largely based upon body fat levels.
The greater the fat deposits on an
animal, the higher the score. A
score of 1 is extremely emaciated
whereas a 9 is obese. Any score
over 5 indicates an animal with
excess fat reserves. BCS score
sheets can be found online and
are also available from many feed
companies and veterinarians.
A main concern in winter is
providing adequate energy through
proper feeding. This is difficult
for horses that are hard keepers
and have a low BCS. Horses
are hindgut fermenters when it
comes to digestion. Digestive
fermentation of hay in the hindgut
is a major source of heat for horses.
An average horse will consume
2 – 2.5% of their body weight in
hay daily. However, older horses
often lack the teeth to successfully
chew long stem hay. If they cannot
consume enough hay, and are not
maintaining body weight, they need
to be supplemented with senior
feed. There are various brands on
the market. Pelletized senior feeds
can be soaked in water to form an
easy to chew mash. Older horses
are also often supplemented with
beet pulp, vegetable oil, hay chaff
and/or steamed, crimped or rolled
grains.
All horses, particularly
4 types of foods to help boost
your memory
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the need for a blanket, there is a
general rule of thumb. If the horse
is over 20 years old, ill or in poor
condition - and temperatures drop
below 40 degrees Fahrenheit – use
the blanket. Check under blankets
daily for chaffing or dermatitis and
make sure there are no dangling
straps to entangle the horse.
Finally, do not neglect hoof
care for geriatric horses. Frozen
ground or muddy ground wreaks
havoc on hooves. Older horses
may already be battling poor hoof
quality due to metabolic conditions,
inadequate nutrient uptake or poor
circulation. Many have arthritic
conditions that worsen with cold
weather. Overgrown and uneven
hooves make walking more
difficult on winter terrain and can
increase discomfort in inflamed
joints.
Keep a close eye on
your horses. Monitor water
consumption, note any difficulty
chewing and look for signs of loss
of condition. Keep ahead of the
game. It is difficult keeping weight
on many older horses, and even
harder to put it back on once lost.
Senior SPoTLiGHT
ROGUE VALLEY
COUNCIL
seniors, should receive regular
dental care. Horses with missing
and decayed teeth, or those with
hooks and points on their molars,
will find eating difficult. In addition
to dental care, regular de-worming
is a must.
Horses often drink less water
in cold weather. Horses drinking
less may also eat less. Worse yet,
they can become susceptible to
impaction colic. Horses need full
access to unfrozen water. If it is
possible to heat drinking water,
this is even better. Research
indicates that heating water to 39
degrees Fahrenheit increases water
intake. In larger stock tanks this is
generally not possible. However,
consider periodically hanging
buckets of heated water in stalls.
To blanket or not to blanket,
that is the question. Most healthy
horses are sufficiently warm with
their natural winter coats, even
when temps dip below freezing.
However, they do need some form
of shelter to protect them from
wind and cold rain. If a horse is
robust, maintaining weight and
has shelter, they may not need a
blanket. If you are still questioning
Eat your veggies. Getting adequate
vegetables, especially cruciferous ones
including broccoli, cabbage and dark
leafy greens, may help improve memory.
Try a kale salad or substitute collard
greens for a tortilla in your next sand-
wich wrap. Broccoli stir-fry is also an
excellent option for lunch or dinner.
Be sweet on berries and cherries.
Berries — especially dark ones such as
blackberries, blueberries and cherries
— are a rich source of anthocyanins and
other flavonoids that may boost memory
MONDAY – JAN. 30
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& HAM
WEDNESDAY - FEB. 1
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If you need meals
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function. Enjoy a handful of berries for
a snack, mixed into cereal or baked into
an antioxidant-rich dessert. You can reap
these benefits from fresh, frozen or dried
berries and cherries.
Get adequate omega-3 fatty acids.
Essential for good brain health, omega-3
fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
in particular, may help improve memory
in healthy young adults. Seafood, algae
and fatty fish — including salmon,
bluefin tuna, sardines and herring — are
some of the best sources of omega-3 fat-
ty acids. Substitute fish for meat a couple
of times each week to get a healthy dose.
Sponsored by
Grill, bake or broil fish for ultimate fla-
vor and health. Try salmon tacos with red
cabbage slaw, snack on sardines or enjoy
seared tuna on salad greens for dinner. If
you don’t eat fish, you can get omega-
3 fatty acids from fish oil, seaweed or
microalgae supplements.
Work in walnuts. Well known for a
positive impact on heart health, walnuts
also may improve working memory.
Snack on a handful of walnuts to satisfy
midday hunger, add them to oatmeal or
salad for crunch or mix them into a veg-
etable stir-fry for extra protein.
More information found at Eatright.org.
i.V. Wellness resources
Hearing Loss Review
Hearing loss can affect any age, but it is most common in
seniors and is of great concern to our friends and families. It
can be embarrassing, along with frustrating. Hearing loss is any
degree of loss for hearing loudness or pitch that is beyond the
range for normal. It is possible for you to have a slight loss, but
not experience any difficulty because it doesn’t interfere with
your everyday living. On the other hand, you may have trouble
hearing in some situations even if you have no hearing loss. An
example of this is finding it hard to understand what is going on
when there are many people in the same room all talking at the
same time. The term “deaf” refers only to those hearing losses
of a profound degree. Just as hearing impairments vary, so will
people’s coping abilities. Older adults frequently experience
a reduction in speech comprehension and may begin to feel
isolated if communication deteriorates. The medical term for
a loss that accompanies aging is “presbycusis,” literally mean-
Senior Bulletin
HEALTH & WELLNESS
FAIR
Jan. 28, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
I.V. Senior Center, 520 E.
River St., Cave Junction,
presented by Healthy U.
HOME SAFETY
EVALUATAIONS
Call Pat Jenkins, RN,
MSN with I.V. Wellness
Resources for a low cost
evaluation at 541-415-
0465.
ing “elder” (presby), “hearing” (akousis). 60 percent of us over
55 years have a hearing loss, but only 2 percent are classified
as legally deaf. Other factors than aging can affect our loss of
hearing including; noise exposure, injury, medication (causing
ototoxicity) such as large doses of aspirin, diuretics and some
antibiotics. Disease and heredity are other factors affecting
hearing. Heart or kidney disease, diabetes, emphysema or stroke
may disrupt blood flow to the inner ear, causing permanent
Free for Seniors
hearing loss. Otosclerosis is an hereditary condition that causes
If
you are a senior and
an overgrowth of bone around the small bones in the middle ear
want
to place a FREE
causing those bones to become fixed and prevents them from
AD for a living or health
vibrating. Don’t be misled by those who tell you that a hearing
loss is normal for your age. Hearing loss may be more common care need call Laura at
as we get older, but it is not normal.
541-592-2541 or email
We will talk more about hearing loss next week. You can
laura@illinois-valley-
contact I.V. Wellness Resources at www.ivwellnesresources@
news.com.
gmail.com.
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