what to feed an OTTB

Question
Hello-
I am adopting an OTTB that has been off track for a few months now. He is at a great weight and in good shape.  Now that his workload is going to change what should I feed in order to maintain his great appearance?  Any suggestions on how to keep his coat so pretty?

Answer
You will have to adjust for his activity, but I would always feed free choice hay in addition to any grains. As far as grains go... Anything with higher fat content will have enough oils to keep his coat healthy. There are some coat conditioning supplements you could use. Basic corn oil or flax seed is good for the coat as well. I would feed a few quarts a day of a quality feed with added vitamin and minerals and adjust the quantity to the horse's activity level. Follow the recommendations on the feed bag. Feeds are formulated different so go by what the manufacturer says for a starting point. Tell your feed store what you are looking for and they can usually guide you to a balanced feed for your horse's current needs. Use your own judgment on quality, since the feed representative will of course tell you that their feeds are the best.

Christopher Crocker

Crocker Racing Stable Inc. and thoroughbred horse racing partnerships

http://crockerracingstable.com