5 yr old Belgian

Question
Jessica I have just purchased a 5 year old Belgian.
I was told that i should change up his diet to Purina senior feed and some foliage.... I am very confused I thought they couldn't have that. But mine trainer assures me that it will be fine. I am giving him 5 flakes a day 2 alfalfa and 3 orchard. with some canola oil too.
Is this wrong?
Please let me know what you think...
thanks and good day...:)
stina

Answer
Hi,  This diet is completely fine for any horse of any breed and age.  Breed doesn't have anything to do with what you should or shouldn't feed.  All horses need a lot of roughage (hay/grass) in their diet.  This keeps their gut working and will help prevent colic or any other intestinal upset.  However, they cannot have hay that is molded as this could cause them to colic.  The alfalfa/orchard grass that you are feeding is a good mixture.  The canola oil is good too as it will make their coat shiny and add fat to their diet.  As for the senior feed, I prefer to feed a horse that young something with a little lower protein, usually senior feed is either 14% or 16% protein.  But if your horse is on the lazy side then he may need it.  Senior feed is usually a complete feed meaning it has all the extra vitamins and minerals that other feeds don't have.  Some senior feed also has beet pulp already in it.  So this is a very quality feed, I usually don't have anything that's above the age of 3 that needs the extra protein.  So in other words the senior is very safe, I just prefer something lower in protein, personally.  It sounds like your trainer knows how to feed a horse.
Good luck!  Jessica