Golden oldies

While the main aspects of pony care are the same regardless of your pony’s age, there are a few extra things to bear in mind for older ponies. Check out our five things to know about caring for your veteran.

Eat right

Making sure your pony is getting the right amount of food is especially important as he ages, because it might be more difficult for him to maintain a healthy weight. Speak to your vet for advice about how much he needs to eat and whether you should limit his intake or increase it. Regularly check your pony’s weight using a weigh bridge or tape, and condition score him to help you decide whether you need to adjust his diet.

Top tip

Read our guide to body condition scoring your pony here

Hot ‘n’ cold

Getting your rugging system right can be really tough, especially if you have an older pony. Remember, your pony doesn’t feel the cold the same way you do.

He’ll almost always be warmer than you are, so don’t be tempted to over-rug him. Think about your veteran’s body condition score and how active he is. An active pony of a healthy weight can be rugged as you would a younger pony. However, if he isn’t very active or is on the slimmer side then it may be worth ensuring he stays extra warm and toasty to avoid him losing more weight.

Did you know?

A pony who is moving around a lot will stay warmer, so just because your pony is turned out doesn’t mean he’s automatically colder than his stable-dwelling friends.

Learn more about taking care of your golden oldie in January PONY – out now!