With better veterinary care and nutrition, horses are living longer, more active lives and they’re encountering new health issues as a result. To address this, Purina Animal Nutrition introduced Equine Senior® and Equine Senior® Active horse feed with ActivAge™ prebiotic – a proprietary ingredient scientifically proven to strengthen immune function, boost response to vaccination and protect against inflammation related to aging (inflamm-aging).
Since introducing Equine Senior®, the first senior horse feed, in 1993, Purina Ph.D. equine nutritionists and veterinarians have continuously explored and researched new ways to address the specific needs of aging horses. Purina Animal Nutrition Center partnered with the Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky, over a three-year study, to determine the effects of feeding ActivAge™ prebiotic on immune function in senior horses. ActivAge™ prebiotic is a patent-pending, proprietary feed additive that contains beneficial metabolites, including vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. These metabolites work together to support the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the horse’s gut and to promote optimal immune function, which declines with age. “It’s amazing how a nutritional advancement like ActivAge™ prebiotic is redefining how we categorize a senior horse,” said Dr. Kelly Vineyard, research equine nutritionist, Purina Animal Nutrition. “Two decades ago, a 20-year-old horse was considered old. But now we’re seeing innovations in nutrition that can address the effects of aging and give owners and horses more healthy years together.”
To learn more visit senioractivage.com; purinamills.com
Published in April 2015 Issue
The Northwest Horse Source is an independently owned and operated print and online magazine for horse owners and enthusiasts of all breeds and disciplines in the Pacific Northwest. Our contemporary editorial columns are predominantly written by experts in the region, covering the care, training, keeping and enjoyment of horses, with an eye to the specific concerns in our region.
