Thank you for joining the 2025 UGA Horse Owner’s Webinar Series: Senior Horse Management. This webpage will host all of the materials for the course, including recordings, supplemental readings, helpful websites and other resources to help guide your study. Should you need further assistance, have suggestions for a resource that should be added, or have a specific nutrition-related question, please contact Robyn Stewart at rlstew2@uga.edu.
Getting Started:
Since this is the sixth year of our HOW program, we have built a substantial body of knowledge and resources for you to access. Please visit our UGA Horse Owner’s Webinar Series homepage to access all of our prior series.
Week #1: Aging In Horses with Dr. Alicia Herbst (Rutgers University)
This week, we discussed factors that influence horse age including identifying age-related changes, evaluating horse condition for symptoms of aging, and some thoughts on caring for senior horses.
Recording: Understanding Aging in Horses
PowerPoint Slides: Available in the 2025 Senior Horse Management OneDrive Folder (this system can be temperamental; please contact me at rlstew2@uga.edu if you have trouble)
Written Materials:
Muscle Atrophy Scoring System (MASS) scientific research article.
“Muscle Loss Atrophy Scoring System for Horses Introduced” article by Kentucky Equine Research discussing the MASS system.
“My Senior Horse” website referenced by Dr. Herbst
“Evaluating Body Composition of Horses” from Ohio State University Extension. This resource includes information on the Muscle Atrophy Scoring System (MASS), cresty neck scoring, and body condition scoring discussed in class.
“Equine Carrot Stretches” by the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center. This article discusses specific carrot stretches that can be used to assist with range of motion, strength, and flexibility.
Week #2: Senior Horse Feeding & Nutrition with Robyn Stewart, M.S. (UGA)
This week, we reviewed challenges with feeding senior horses, strategies for modifying diets to accommodate senior horse dietary needs, feeding management for older horses, and some economics of feeding.
Recording: Senior Horse Nutrition Recording
PowerPoint Slides: Available in the 2025 Senior Horse Management OneDrive Folder (this system can be temperamental; please contact me at rlstew2@uga.edu if you have trouble)
Written Materials:
2023 Basics of Equine Nutrition – Our 2023 UGA Horse Owner’s Webinar Series focused on essential basics you need to know about how equine nutrition. If you are new to nutrition and just starting out, this is a great place to build a foundation of knowledge before you dive in deeper. This series included lectures on: Digestive Anatomy and Physiology, Essential Nutrient Requirements, Pasture Nutrition, Hay and Forage Alternatives, Feeds and Supplements, and Interpreting Feed Tags.
Basics of Equine Nutrition Workbook – This award-winning workbook published in 2023 was designed to cover the same foundational information as our 2023 webinar series in a written format. It walks through the same 6 topics (Anatomy, Nutrients, Pasture, Hay/Alternatives, Feed & Supplements, Feed Tags), providing supplemental resources, key concepts, and practical applications for each area. If you prefer to read rather than listen, this is a great option.
2024 Applied Equine Nutrition – The 2024 UGA Horse Owner’s Webinar Series focused on taking foundational knowledge from 2023 and applying it to different types of horse you may need to feed. Topics included feeding thin horses, feeding overweight horses, feeding senior horses, feeding metabolic horses, feeding performance horses, and feeding mules and donkeys. If you’re looking for more information on feeding one of these types of horses, check out these materials.
The Equine Exchange – Started in 2022, this program provides short-format information on specific equine management topics and is ongoing today. Past presentations include information on Body Condition Scoring, Forage Alternatives, Feeding for Weight Gain, and others.
“Evaluating Body Composition of Horses” from Ohio State University Extension. This resource includes information on the Muscle Atrophy Scoring System (MASS), cresty neck scoring, and body condition scoring discussed in class.
“Equine Body Condition Scoring Flow Chart” was developed in 2024 as a supplemental tool for individuals learning how to body condition score their horses. It provides a step-by-step flow-chart to help suggest an appropriate score along with accuracy checks and example photos.
Week #3: Health Ailments of Senior Horses with Dr. Jennifer Proctor, Piedmont Animal Hospital
This week, we reviewed health challenges common in senior horses from nose to tail. Dr. Proctor discussed the many bodily systems that can experience age-related change and chronic issues that affect your horses well-being and comfort.
Recording: Ailments of Senior Horses Recording
PowerPoint Slides: Available in the 2025 Senior Horse Management OneDrive Folder (this system can be temperamental; please contact me at rlstew2@uga.edu if you have trouble)
Supplemental Materials:
Basic Equine Health Webinars– Our 2021 UGA Horse Owner’s Webinar Series talked all things equine health, from first aid and emergencies, vaccinations, parasitology, hoof care, dentition, and welfare.
Adult Horse Vaccination Chart – This article from AAEP discusses the most recent recommendation for core and risk-based vaccines. Core vaccines include EEE/WEE, Rabies, Tetanus, and West Nile. Risk-based vaccines include EHV, Flu/Rhino, Strangles, and many others. Work with your veterinarian to develop an appropriate vaccination protocol for your horse.
Equine Parasite Control – From the Elevated Equine website, this article written by UGA Equine Specialist Dr. Kylee Duberstein outlines the most recent AAEP recommendations for deworming.
AAEP Horse Owner Resources – This website has links to written and recorded resources relating to equine health management from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.
Week #4: Endocrine Disorders of Senior Horses with Dr. Erica Macon, Texas A&M University
This week, Dr. Macon discussed common endocrine disorders – PPID or cushings, insulin dysregulation, and equine metabolic syndrome. Each of these disorders have significant impacts on the type of management we need to implement for overall horse health and well-being.
Recording: Endocrine Disorders of Senior Horses
PowerPoint Slides: Available in the 2025 Senior Horse Management OneDrive Folder (this system can be temperamental; please contact me at rlstew2@uga.edu if you have trouble)
Supplemental Materials:
Introduction to Hormonal Disorders – this article by Merck Veterinary Manual discusses an introduction to hormonal disorders including what glands are involved and how these disorders occur.
Metabolic Problems in the Horse – By Rutgers University, this article briefly describes and defines four metabolic conditions – EMS, PPID, ID, and Hyperinsulinemia, provides feeding recommendations, and additional resources for further education.
Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) – This article from Michigan Veterinary Laboratories discusses PPID or cushings disease in depth, including signs and symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment.
Equine Metabolic Syndrome – by UC Davis Veterinary School, this article discusses EMS in depth, including signs and symptoms, diagnoses, and treatment/management options.
Equine Endocrinology Group – this collaborative effort is focused on creating recommendations for management of equine endocrine disorders based on the most modern research available.
Mad Barn Feed Database – as discussed in class, this database provides substantial information on feed products from across the world and may be a good starting point to evaluate your horses diet.
Week #5: End of Life Decisions and Planning with Dr. Rebecca Husted, Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue
It’s hard to imagine life without our beloved horses, but when you own a senior animal, the end of life decision becomes inevitable. Dr. Husted discussed considerations for how to make this decisions and how to appropriately plan for this sad but important time.
Recording: End of Life Planning
PowerPoint Slides: Available in the 2025 Senior Horse Management OneDrive Folder (this system can be temperamental; please contact me at rlstew2@uga.edu if you have trouble)
Supplemental Materials:
Euthanasia Guidelines – This page from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) provides the most up-to-date guidelines on euthanasia decision-making and methods for horses.
Five Domains Model – A brief .pdf file, this link provides an overview of the five domains and characteristics of each.
Veterinary Lookup – If you’re looking for a veterinarian, you can search for licensed operations in your state at the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.
How to Make Euthanasia Decisions – This article by Horses and People AU was referenced frequently by Dr. Husted. It includes the equine welfare checklist that you can use to evaluate the horses welfare and well-being.
Anticipatory Grief – Article discussing what anticipatory grief is and how to cope with impending loss.