Feeding a malnutrition horse

Question
I have  a question.  We adopted a mare about 11 years old and 16 h.  The
hose seems a little thin.  I could see her ribs just slightly.  I have been told
that I need to provide a re-feeding program to get her back in shape.  Many
suggestions were given.  One suggestion was to provide hay as free choice
for a few weeks and then introduce grains.  3-9 pounds per-day of 12% crude
protein grain mix with mineral supplement molasses.  What do you think?  
Please help.  This horse is beautiful and we really care for her.  We would like
to do the right thing.

Thank you.

Answer
Hello Joel,

I do not recommend grain unless a horse is being worked or growing, and then only a small amount until being worked hard.  For this mare I recommend, instead, beet pulp pellets, hydrated, twice a day, mixed with rice bran.  This will give her rib covering without too much protein.  And yes, free choice GRASS hay all the time, not just when she is thin.  In addition to that the supplement MEGA-CELL is awesome for thin, rundown horses.

The most important thing about beet pulp pellets is that you must soak them in water for at least 4 hours before feeding.  

Good luck with the mare. She is a lucky horse to have found you.

Dorothy