Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
Welcome to my forum.
Here you will find more than 6 years of questions and my answers. It is searchable and offers a great deal of information.
Currently, I am discontinuing new questions. This may change in the future, but in the meantime, please know that It has been a true pleasure serving you.
Take a look at my Nutrition Library and Tips of the Month for a variety of answers on selected topics. Be sure to sign up for my monthly e-newsletter, Forage for Thought.
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All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hi Gladys,
Barley is a cereal grain, just like oats and corn. And, it is not very well digested, so I don't like feeding it, especially in large amounts.
To put weight on a horse, it is best to add more calories from fat, rather than from grain. Fat has more than twice the number of calories per gram as grain (starch) has. So, fatty feeds such as rice bran, flaxseed meal, soybean meal, and even adding oils to the diet, is the best way to go.
Also, increasing the amount of alfalfa in the diet is helpful because it has more calories than grass hay. And, beet pulp is another good idea -- it has almost as many calories as cereal grains, without the danger of starch overload.
Best regards,
Dr. Getty 
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO