Old Horses

[hooligan]

So I have been offered two 'old horses' from a retired couple that was going to have them PTS.

In case they do come to live with us (well on my co-workers land-though we will be caring for them) I was wondering if you could recommend a book or two. I was looking at the 'For Dummies' books and the FFA book but what have been good books in your opinion?

I am in the process of getting details on the horses like age, sex, condition, breed etc and will give more details when I have them.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Get some issues of Horse Illustrated & Equus. UTD horse nutrition and care for senior horses changes faster than books can be edited and published. Good magazines can update faster.

 

[ducks4you]

I just lost 3 of my old BFF's (mid to late 20's) in 2008 and 2009--I owned 2 of them for over 20 years. I had them on alfalfa hay (straight), joint supplement, and Equine Senior. The newest Purina Equine Senior can now be soaked in water and fed as a mash for old horses that lack MOST of their teeth--I would recommend it.
They need the teeth that they have left floated regularly.
They can be ridden IF they don't have arthritis. You MUST spend more time warming up and cooling down, lest you force a heart attack or colic from stress.
You need to decide WHAT to do when the list of health problems gets long enough that your horse is suffering and it's no longer fun for him/her to be a horse anymore. Talk to your Vet about this.
PLEASE do NOT sell them to a "good home." Pasture pets are coming to YOU for a good home, and that's the best they've gonna get. (I keep my good horses until they die, or I put them humanely down.)
If they're not permantly lame, an old horse can be a wonderful companion. You can have great fun with little kids, giving them a safe ride.
PM me if you want to know more.
(Here one picture of them--scroll down~)
http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2536&p=3