Older horses do not automatically need a specialist veteran feed, but their ration deserves a closer look as chewing ability, body condition, workload and general health change. A senior that is holding weight, eating forage comfortably and looking well may need very little adjustment. A horse that is losing topline, taking longer to eat or struggling through winter needs a more careful review.Pure Feed Company Pure Veteran Mix is designed for older horses that need help maintaining condition or are still in regular work. It combines a soft chop with slow-release energy, protein and a fortified balancer in one feed.Start with the horse, not the age on the feed bagThere is no single birthday at which every horse should move onto veteran feed. Instead, look for practical changes: weight loss or ribs becoming easier to see and feel; loss of muscle along the topline or quarters; quidding, dropping forage or taking much longer to eat; a dull coat, reduced appetite or lower energy; difficulty maintaining condition through colder weather; or an older horse remaining in work whose ration no longer matches its workload.Unexplained weight loss should not simply be covered up with more feed. Dental problems, parasites, pain, PPID and other illness can all affect condition, so involve your vet and equine dental professional where appropriate. Our guide to identifying and managing poor condition in horses covers the wider checks to make.Keep forage at the centre of the rationForage remains the foundation of the diet. Check how much the horse is actually eating rather than relying only on what is offered. Older teeth may cope poorly with long-stem hay even when the horse still appears keen to eat.If chewing hay has become difficult, a soft forage replacer may be needed. Pure Feed Meadow Mash is a quick-soaking, high-fibre option that can help replace part of the forage ration. Read our guide to using a soaked hay replacer and ask a nutritionist to calculate a suitable total ration; a token bucket of mash will not replace a meaningful shortage of forage.What does Pure Veteran Mix provide?Pure Veteran Mix is a medium-calorie, high-fibre feed with a soft chop. According to the current Pure Feed specification, it provides 10MJ/kg digestible energy, 14% protein, 37% fibre, 7% oil, 4% starch and 6% naturally occurring sugar.It includes a vitamin and mineral package, added lysine and methionine, biotin, fructo-oligosaccharides and live yeast. It is made without molasses, wholegrain cereals, alfalfa, soya or nutritionally improved straw. These features make it a useful option for a senior that needs a straightforward fortified feed without relying on a high-starch cereal ration.When might Pure Veteran Mix suit? A senior losing condition: slow-release calories and oil can help increase energy intake when enough is fed. An older horse still working: protein and amino acids contribute to a ration designed to support muscle and topline alongside appropriate exercise. A horse finding coarse chop difficult: the softer chop may be easier to manage than a more fibrous mix, although dental assessment is still essential. A horse needing controlled sugar and starch: the combined figure is 10%, but suitability must be judged across the complete diet, especially for horses with PPID, insulin dysregulation or a history of laminitis.What about Pure Linseed?Pure Feed Pure Linseed is a separate, single-ingredient source of micronised linseed. It is energy dense at 20MJ/kg and 35% oil, so a small daily amount can add slow-release calories where required. The manufacturer recommends 100g per day for a pony and 200g per day for a horse.Linseed is not a substitute for a balanced ration and it is not automatically needed alongside Veteran Mix. Use it when the individual horse genuinely needs more energy, and introduce it gradually.How much Pure Veteran Mix should you feed?The current manufacturer feeding rate is 400600g per 100kg bodyweight per day, adjusted for condition and work. For a 500kg horse, that is 23kg daily, divided between meals. Dampen well before feeding and make changes gradually over at least a week.Feeding substantially less than the recommended amount also reduces the vitamins, minerals and protein supplied. If your horse needs only a small bucket feed, ask whether a concentrated balancer would meet its needs more accurately.A practical winter checklist for older horses Record bodyweight or weigh-tape measurements every one to two weeks. Use body condition scoring and assess muscle separately. Watch the horse eat forage and check for quidding. Provide shelter, suitable rugs and plenty of unfrozen drinking water. Split bucket feed into manageable meals. Review the ration after any change in forage, turnout, workload or health.Important: Older horses vary enormously. Seek veterinary advice for unexplained weight loss, appetite changes, signs of dental pain or suspected PPID. Product specifications and feeding rates can change, so check the current bag label before feeding.