fat vs. fiber

Question
i have a filly who has a hard time gaining and holding on to her weight. i thought by giving her feed that had a high fat pct. it would put weight on her, but i was told to find feed that was high in fiber instead what are your thoughts on this.should i limit her work while i am trying to put the weight on her so i don't burn it off as quickly as i put it on and are there any supplements that you can suggest for weight gain.

Answer
I would start off by feeding a grain with 6-8% fat. Blue Seal feeds is one of the few who make a race horse formula with the proper fat ration. It's called Vintage Racer. I would give an ulcer medication along with a probiotic and a digestive enzyme. Also make sure you are worming properly. You can also get various weight gain products such as Ultimate Finish by Buckeye. You should be giving all the quality hay the horse can eat and then adjust the amount of grain from 12 to 16 quarts depending on the workload and the rate of weight gain. Spread the feed out to 4 times a day if possible. Feeding smaller amounts allows better absorbtion which means less wasted calories. If you do all these things then you should have no problem putting weight on her. If this fails have the vet check blood for other possible problems. If you are adding grain, do it slowly.