AA Callisters
Login | Returns | Your cart is empty | Checkout
  • Home
  • Clothing
    • Western Wear
      • Men's Apparel
        • Men's Shirts
        • Men's Jeans & Pants
        • Men's Outerwear
        • Sports Jackets
        • Old West Clothing
      • Women's Apparel
        • Women's Shirts & Tops
        • Women's Jeans & Pants
        • Women's Outerwear
      • Boy's Apparel
        • Boy's Shirts
        • Boy's Jeans & Pants
        • Boy's Outerwear
      • Girl's Apparel
        • Girl's Shirts & Tops
        • Girl's Jeans
        • Girl's Outerwear
      • Toddler & Infant Apparel
    • English Wear
      • Women's Clothing
        • Breeches
        • Women's Shirts
        • Women's Show Apparel & Accessories
        • English Outerwear
      • Children's Clothing
      • Men's Clothingl
  • Accessories
    • Pocket Knives
    • Silk Wild Rags & Neck Ties
    • Gloves
      • Work Gloves
      • Riding Gloves
    • Sunglasses
    • Garment Bags & Totes
    • Belts & Suspenders
      • Men's Belts
      • Suspenders
      • Women's Belts
      • Children's Belts
    • Buckles
    • Fragrances & Lotion
    • Jewelry
      • Mens Jewelry
      • Bracelets & Watches
      • Earrings
      • Jewelry Sets
      • Necklaces & Brooches
      • Rings & Hair Accessories
    • Wallets & Purses
      • Men's Wallets & Clips
      • Women's Wallets & Purses
  • Footwear
    • Boot Accessories & Leather Care
    • Socks
    • Western Footwear
      • Men's Footwear
        • Men's Cowboy Boots
        • Men's Workboots
        • Men's Shoes
        • Men's Rain, Snow & Muck
      • Women's Footwear
        • Women's Cowboy Boots
        • Women's Workboots
        • Women's Shoes
        • Women's Rain, Snow & Muck
      • Children's Footwear
        • Children's Cowboy Boots
        • Children's Rain, Snow & Muck
    • English Footwear
      • Women's Riding Boots
      • Children's Riding Boots
      • Men's Riding Boots
      • English Half Chaps
  • Hats
    • Hat Accessories
    • Straw Hats
    • Felt Hats
    • Australian Hats
    • Baseball Caps
    • Children's Hats
    • Winter Hats
  • Decor & Gifts
    • Gift Cards
    • Home Decor
    • Statues & Figurines
    • Kitchen Decor
    • Toys
    • Office Decor
    • Books & DVDs
  • Tack
    • Riding Helmets
    • Protective Vests
    • Leather, Silver & Waterproofing Care
    • Bits
    • Halters & Leads
    • Leg Gear & Hoof Boots
    • Horse Blankets & Sheets
      • Horse Blanket Accessories
      • Winter Blankets
      • Nylon Sheets
      • Coolers
      • Fly Sheets
    • Western Tack
      • Western Saddles
        • Barrel Racing Saddles
        • Trail & Pleasure Saddles
        • Roping Saddles
        • Ranch & Working Saddles
        • Reining, Cutting & Show Saddles
        • Youth Saddles
      • Western Saddle Pads
      • Cinches & Back Cinches
      • Breastcollars
      • Headstalls
      • Curb & Slobber Straps
      • Cavesons & Tie Downs
      • Western Reins
      • Bosals & Mecates
      • Western Stirrups
      • Training Forks & Martingales
      • Western Saddle Bags
      • Western Saddle Accessories
      • Western Spurs & Straps
      • Western Chaps
    • English Tack
      • English Saddles
      • English Saddle Pads
      • English Girths
      • Irons & Leathers
      • Martingales & Breastplates
      • Bridles & Accessories
      • English Reins
      • English Saddle Accessories
      • English Spurs & Straps
    • Miniature Tack
    • Australian Tack
    • Horse Racing
      • Race Saddles
      • Horse Racing Tack
      • Jockey Apparel
    • Hunting & Packing
      • Pack Saddles & Tack
      • Panniers & Liners
      • Scabbards & Packing Accessories
    • Harness & Accessories
  • Rodeo
    • Rough Stock Gear
      • Equipment & Gear
      • Helmets & Protective Vests
    • Barrel Racing
    • Team Roping
      • Team Ropes
      • Rope Bags
      • Team Roping Accessories
    • Calf & Breakaway Roping
      • Calf Ropes
      • Strings
      • Roping Accessories
    • Ranch Roping
    • Youth Ropes
  • Animal
    • Horse Care
      • Horse Wormers
      • Supplements
      • Hoof Care
      • First Aid
      • Therapeutic Products
    • Grooming Supplies
      • Mane & Tail Care
      • Clippers & Accessories
      • Bathing Supplies
      • Brushes & Combs
      • Show Supplies
      • Totes & Organizers
    • Stable & Trailer
      • Fly Control
      • Hay Bags & Nets
      • Horse Treats & Toys
      • Trailer Supplies
      • Stall Supplies
    • Training Equipment
      • Lunging Equipment
      • Crops, Whips & Flags
      • Cones & Jumps
      • Behavioral Training Aids
      • Horse Ear Plugs
    • Dog Supplies
      • Dog Collars & Leashes
      • Dog Care & Toys
      • Dog Coats
    • Poultry Supplies
  • Farrier
    • Farrier Tools
      • Hoof Knives
      • Nippers
      • Clinchers, Clinch Blocks & Cutters
      • Rasps
      • Hammers
      • Pritchels & Fore Punches
      • Dividers, Gauges & Eveners
    • Farrier Truck & Shop
      • Tool Boxes
      • Hoof Stands
      • Anvils & Stands
      • Forging & Accessories
    • Hoof Packing & Repair
    • Hoof Pads
    • Horseshoe Nails
    • Steel Horseshoes
    • Race Plates
    • Specialty Horseshoes
  • Shop the Brands
    • Concealed Carry
    • Ariat
    • Cinch
    • Corral Boots
    • Double J Saddlery
    • Hooey
    • Back on Track
    • Breyer Horses
    • Equibrand & Cashel
    • Garth Brooks Sevens
    • Justin Boots
    • Montana Silversmiths
    • Nocona
    • Roper
    • Stetson
    • Tony Lama
    • Weaver Leather
    • Wrangler
tactics caring aging horses

Tactics for Caring for Aging Horses, Part 3

In previous entries to this blog series, we’ve discussed several of the issues and care areas you have to prioritize for aging horses. Modern medicine and technology allow us to care for horses and keep them alive and strong for longer than at any other point during history, but this still requires careful prioritization of the right areas when your horse reaches its later years.

At AA Callister, we’re proud to offer everything from farrier supplies to rodeo vests and much more when it comes to horse care and enjoyment. We also provide a wide range of horse care supplies, including horse wormers, First Aid products and much more. In today’s final installment of our senior horse care series, we’ll go over a few additional concerns that often crop up for older horses, plus what you can do to prevent and address them.

Tooth Concerns

Like older humans in some cases, older horses may begin to have teeth issues that form through simple aging and wear-and-tear. The most common such issue is trouble chewing, which may be related to the teeth themselves or could also be due to jaw or muscle strength issues in the horse.

In some situations, changing to a formulated senior horse feed will be enough to solve these issues. This feed is designed to be easier to chew and digest than typical forage, which can help many horses. If this does not solve your issue, contact your veterinarian for more information on what you might be able to do for their tooth issues.

Impactions

If you aren’t aware, the term “impaction” in horses refers to a blockage of the gastrointestinal tract, generally caused by a buildup of material (often feces). In many cases, the cause of impactions in older horses is an improperly-functioning colon, especially if the impaction always occurs in the same place within the intestine. In these cases, your vet will perform a rectal exam to confirm the condition.

During this exam, the vet will rule out areas like fat tumors, sand collections or enteroliths. If none of these are the cause of the impaction, the issue is generally poor hydration, which can be solved by adding salt to your horse’s diet – the sale doesn’t solve the hydration issue itself, but rather encourages the horse to drink more water.

Digestion Issues

Finally, visible signs like more gas, larger bellies and soft manure could signal that your aging horse is having digestive issues. If you’ve already confirmed your deworming is good (we covered this in part two), and the horse is getting enough forage, you may consider probiotics to help smooth things over in the digestive system. If this does not work, your vet may recommend an enzyme supplement or a change in feed to a format that has more grains and fiber sources.

For more on caring for aging horses, or to learn about any of our Western wear or other horse supplies, speak to the staff at AA Callister today.

« Tactics for Caring for Aging Horses, Part 2
Basics on Horse Blankets and Measuring Your Horse »

Blog Post Category

  • Blog
  • Clothing
  • Footwear
  • Hats
  • Hoof Care
  • Tack Rodeo
  • Uncategorized
picking women’s jean style

In part one of this two-part...

AA Callisters
picking women’s jean style

Whether you’re a true cowgirl who...

AA Callisters
horse bit options selection

In part one of this two-part...

AA Callisters
horse bit options selection

For those who train and regularly...

AA Callisters

Latest Posts

  • Picking the Right Women’s Cowgirl Jean Style, Part 2
  • Picking the Right Women’s Cowgirl Jean Style, Part 1
  • Horse Bit Options and Selection Tips, Part 2
  • Horse Bit Options and Selection Tips, Part 1
  • Day-Of Tips and Considerations for Western Horse Shows

Subscribe for Newsletter

Information

  • Locations
  • Employment

Customer Service

  • Contact Us
  • Returns & Policies

ABOUT SSL CERTIFICATES
Authorize.Net Merchant - Click to Verify Accept Credit Card Payments

About A.A. Callister

In 1952, Arthur A. Callister began trading wool with his father in a little shop on Redwood Road in Salt Lake City, Utah. Noticing how many customers were in need of quality tack to outfit themselves and their horses, AA Callister's Western Wear and Tack was born! Over 50 years and many satisfied customers we are still a family owned tack shop still located on the original site. We are proud to represent the traditions and lifestyles that made the West famous. We are also proud to feature some of the finest tack, clothing, and equipment made. Come live part of the American West today!

© 2015 AA Callister. All rights reserved.