One mix that i have found that works wonders on older/hardkeeping/underweight horses is Rice Bran (26% fat) and a complete feed like Purina Senior. For those of you who do not know, complete feed means that it has hay in it. Feed the recommended amount for your horse and add 1/2 small can of coffee can - MUST BE SOAKED. Rice bran is a powder. Plus not only does it give you an extra way to hydrate your horse, for those horses who are older and have teeth wear or missing teeth, soaking really helps. Also, a horse that has been deprived of food or not getting enough can have a tendancy to "bolt" their food. (<---just had the vet out for a choking episode due to this).

One added benefit to Purina senior is that it has a fat supplement called Athlete in it (14% fat) that really helps to put weight on your horse. I use athlete as a top dressing for the horses in heavy work. Ups the calories without the craziness with higher protein feed.

When shopping for a grain, stay away from something that is an "extruded" pellet. During the refining of this grain, air is added to the pellet. Hence, you need to feed more grain to get the results you want. Also, you have a TB (i'm assuming an OTTB?), 90% of all racehorses have ulcers in some varying degree or stomach irritation. You will want a pellet, not Sweetfeed. The molasses in sweetfeed is a major irritant to horses with sensitive stomachs.

I have found that when designing a program for weight gain, keep it simple. I have had several horses come in for boarding that were on a 23 point feeding program and all needed weight. Simplifying the diet has always resulted in weight gain.

If you want to add a "filler" beet pulp is a good one, but a lot of horses do not like it and then you are faced with adding something sweet to entice them. I have found that hay stretcher added to the mix is never refused and is a good choice.

3 feedings is ideal if you can work it out with your new barn.

I have several old TBs..all fat and all on this simple diet. No oils, no pulp, no 72 supplements for weight gain. Just a complete feed and rice bran. We usually only add the hay stretcher in the winter.