Infamous Weight Gain Issue - Advice needed, PLEASE?!!

Hello everyone! I am new to this forum, so I apologize in advance if I submitted this incorrectly. I am requesting assistance with our boy. He is a 16.3 h, 8 year old OTTB gelding. I would say he is a 2.5-3 at best. We "rescued" him 4 months ago and he isn't gaining weight as he should be. We had teeth floated, he has been dewormed a few times, blood work done and we didn't scope him but elected to treat for ulcers as a precaution. Here is our feeding information:

* He is on a dry lot with free choice grass hay available 24/7
* He is fed 10# of feed divided into four feedings of the following - 8 lbs of Tribute Kalm Ultra (12% Protein/Fat/Fiber), 2 lbs of Tribute Essential K Ration Balancer, along with a microbial supplement (Opti-Zyme).

I know healthy weight gain takes time, but I just don't feel that he is gaining as he should. His hooves are okay and his coat is horrible. Do you guys have any suggestions on what we should do? Our Vet admits that he isn't a feed guru and states we are on the right track, but I think we can do better. If anyone could send suggestions on this matter, I would greatly appreciate it. I long for the day that our boy looks like a chubby showstopper...LOL ... Thank you and I promise to post pictures!

Do you have a siminol feed near you? They have Welness senior and I love it! It's easy to chew and digest. It's REALLY high in protein and fat but low in sugar.

Also Adding flax oil will help.

Oh and Alfalfa pellets are GREAT!

Thank you for the response. The feed that we are currently using already has flax in it. I looked into Seminole products, but decided on Tribute as I can order that in and it contained the same amount of fat. I haven't tried Alfafa pellets as I am a little concerned with them making him "hot". Have you had success with using them? Thanks again!!

I've never had a horse get hot off of alfalfa.

How about rice bran? It has helped me pack on the pounds to my OTTB. When he was really low he was getting...

3# Triple crown senior
2# rice bran
1 or 2# beet pulp
16 oz BOSS
1 C veg oil

2X daily plus free choice hay and the nubs of his pasture.


He was a slow gainer and still isn't exactly where he should be. But in 2 months or so, he put on about 100# with that along with light work.

Good luck!

I am a fan of the molasses free beet pulp and senior feed to plump up a skinny horse. Adding veggie oil can also help pack on the fat. You just need to watch that he doesn't get a runny poop from it.

Some horses do get "hot" of of alfalfa. All our TBs and competitive horses get Alfalfa to help keep weight on.

You do seem on the right track to me feeding more than 2x a day and offering free hay.

I'm glad you've split up your feedings; that works much better than a ton all at once. A cup of corn oil is also FANTASTIC for putting weight, and keeping it, on my Thoroughbreds.

Did you have a blood panel done? It would not hurt to get some "iron" into him, Red Cell, Lixatinic something like that to give him a boost.
Make sure you are weighing your feed, not just scoops. Sounds like you are, but use a scale and make sure exactly what you are feeding.
When we were trying to get our rescued Bones weight gain(he was a 1.5) he was getting 14 lbs of Senior feed daily, broken up into two feedings. I actually got a scale and measured it, not just used scoops or quarts. It was amazing, because 7lbs of this feed filled up almost to the top one of those smaller colored buckets. I was surprised how much it actually took to weigh what I wanted to feed him.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned probiotics. Our OTTB starting gaining weight quickly once we put him on a probiotic supplement.
I HIGHLY reccomend you try it...you will be amazed at how much of a difference this overlooked additive makes.

Thank you for your advice. I am currently feeding a probiotic mixed with his feed. It is the Opti-Zyme that I mentioned. I appreciate everyones input... It is greatly appreciated!