Recommendations on diet

Question
QUESTION: I just bought a 6yr old TB gelding at an auction. He was racing about two years ago.  I have no idea what he has been doing the last two years.  He appears very healthy with good weight.  I was given a note that stated his diet was 4 lbs beet pulp, 4lbs crimped oats, and 4 lbs of blue star 12/8 per day, plus hay.  He is now residing in a pasture with a fair amount of grazing available.  He is getting hay, and about 2 lbs of sweet feed 12/8 per day (This was recommended to me, 'cause I am a new horse owner). This doesn't seem like a lot and the bag recommends more.  I'm at a loss.  I do not know what his lifestyle was like before I got him or whether he got any pasture time so. . .  He will mostly be a pleasure riding horse for me, no competing or showing.  Any recommendations on diet. . .?

ANSWER: The old diet of oats mixed with the blue star was no good. Oats are high in phosphorus   and make the calcium deficient so he was pulling calcium from his bones to get a balance.  Two lbs is not enough to get his vitamins and minerals. The tag gives you the amount that you need based on nutrient requirements. You need to feed what the tag says. If you feed less you will have deficiencies. If he is an easy keeper then you will need to switch to a more nutrient dense feed like ADMs Staystrong or Triple Crowns Lite. You can also feed a low carb feed to reduce any starch related problems.  What brands of feeds are available to you in your area?


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Conveniently, I have access to Nutrena, Lone Star, and probably the Triple Crown.  The pasture isn't providing much grazing (It's about 2 acres with probably 2in high grass.  I was considering Lone Star Multi-blend. I looked at the Triple Crown lite online, and it sounds pretty good.  Is it okay to feed this once per day?  Along with hay?  And how much hay?

Thank you so much for your time and information. I am a big believer in good nutrition for overall health.  And I get different opinions from everyone I talk to. . .

Answer
It is fine to feed the lite once a day and I recommend that feed if you are going to just feed one meal. Conventional feeds will not work on a once a day program. The meal would be too big and could cause starch overload problems. I assume you are in Texas.  So I assume you are talking about coastal hay. I feed 4 flakes a day to my horses and they look good.  If your horse is a hard keeper increase it or an easy keeper you may get by with 3.
It is hard to filter the good advice from the bad.  So much misinformation and opinions.  You ask ten people you get 12 different answers......
Glad I could help. Thanks for asking.  Happy trails.