Grain and Minerals help

Strategy is a pelleted feed, but you could feed a sweet feed or even a complete feed though you would need to feed alot more of a complete feed to meet your horse's nutrient requirements. You can definitely choose between lots of different styles of feeds for your horse, but for a hard keeper you want to choose a feed that is designed to provide more energy (which equates to more fuel for the body to work or bulk up) such as feeds for working or performance horses.

The best way to figure out what kind of feed to use in a situation is read the label. The manufacturer tells you what age or work situation the feed is designed for and what is an appropriate amount of feed for your horse's size and workload. Though these amounts on the label are general recommendations and may need to be altered based upon your specific horse---hard keepers will need more, while easy keepers will need less.

Many of the big feed producers like Purina and Nutrena have websites where they can help you select an appropriate feed.

So just another little thing. I've been feeding him apple and carrot peels and cores, when I can, because I get them from where I work, at a cafe. Will these benefit his health at all? I've heard there are some necessary vitamins in carrots, and I know apples skins have vitamin in it. Is it okay to feed him an extra "scoop" of these every once in while?
And what's a good source or fiber for a horse? It sounds like that's what he needs the most.

Fiber is going to come from his forage---grass, hay, hay cubes, silage, etc. A horse needs to eat 1.5%-3% of his weight per day in forage. For a hard keeper I would go towards the higher end.

As for the apples and carrots, feeding a few now and then is fine unless your horse has certain health conditions like Insulin Resistance.

Is there any way he can get extra fiber? The hay doesn't seem to cut it. I feed him as much as he can eat, but he's still eating leaves and chewing on bark. Are there certain mineral supplements that have extra fiber in it?

Thanks for all the help. Sorry I keep having so many questions.

I find the Purina Equine Junior to be a great feed for young horses. Also to help keep weight on, I'd really recommend Equine SENIOR feeds. They are made so much to help the older guys keep weight on, they work magnificently for any horse. Purina and Triple Crown make really good senior feeds.

Corn oil, flax seed, and beet pulp (soaked) are all great, fairly inexpensive, ways to add weight.

Also, chopped hays (they come in "bales" in plastic bags) are GREAT. The horses love them and they do a really, really good job at keeping weight on. They are a little more on the pricey side, however.

Mineral blocks you can pick up at most local tack and feed stores. Your area really determines the minerals that your horse is going to lack, but the blocks to a pretty good job. The horses also like them and it's good for them in case they get bored.

Hope that helps you some.

The chewing issue may be from boredom or a lack of some vitamin/mineral or just because he's decided he likes the taste.

A free-choice mineral would be a good idea.

Any specifics on what kind or brand of minerals? Or are they all mostly okay?

You are pretty safe with any mineral supplement labelled for use in horses.