The Tough Conversations We Need to Have: Reflections of an Old Horse Caretaker

My old horse was born in 1977. He turned 43 years old in the spring of 2020.

When I bought Pal in 2008 for $1, he was in a dire situation, in need of help. The plan was to give him “one last summer with the sun on his back”. Apparently, he had a very different plan.

Pal weighed 450lbs when I purchased him and as I’ve done many other old or underweight horses, a nutritionist and I devised a slow and gradual feed plan to build him back up again. He steadily put on the pounds and within 4 months weighed 1,100lbs and looked super! Too good, really. I was aware that his natural weight should be closer to around 950lbs so although I still fed him daily, the amounts decreased somewhat and he settled at the weight which was right for him. At that time, he was able to eat anything and everything and he went from strength to strength.

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Article written by: Debbie Barker