Thunderbrook Gentle Gain is a conditioning pellet built around sainfoin, rice bran and linseed. It is intended for horses and ponies that need help gaining or maintaining body condition, including some older horses.The useful question is whether the horse needs additional energy and protein, a texture that is easier to eat, or both. A feed selected for condition should fit into the whole ration and match the reason the horse is struggling.Check why condition has changedIf a horse is losing weight unexpectedly, involve your vet before simply increasing the bucket feed. Changes in dental health, illness and management can all affect food intake or body condition. Watch a full meal and look at how much forage is left behind.An older horse that eats comfortably and maintains a healthy body condition may need little change to its diet. Age alone is not a reason to add a conditioning feed. Record weight trends and body condition so that any feeding change has a clear purpose.What does Gentle Gain contain?The current manufacturer composition lists sainfoin at 58.5% and rice bran at 32%, with linseed, a yeast product and mineral ingredients. Sainfoin provides a forage base and protein; rice bran and linseed contribute to the conditioning formulation.The product is made without alfalfa, molasses or soya. Those exclusions may help owners compare ingredient lists, but they do not make a feed automatically better for every horse. The amount fed and the rest of the diet still matter.Thunderbrook describes Gentle Gain as grain-free, although it contains rice bran, which comes from rice. For a horse with a specific ingredient restriction, read the full composition rather than relying on the headline wording.Understanding the nutritional figuresThe published analysis gives 15.1% protein, 8.7% fat and 21.2% fibre. Sugar is listed at 4.5% and starch at 10.7%. These figures are useful when comparing feeds for the same horse, especially where an existing ration already contains several sources of energy.Gentle Gain is not starch-free. No added molasses also does not mean no sugar. For a horse with insulin dysregulation, a history of laminitis or another metabolic concern, have the full ration assessed before choosing a conditioning feed. A manufacturer's suitability statement cannot replace that individual assessment.When might it fit the ration?A horse that needs additional condition: the forage intake is adequate, but the ration needs a suitable addition of energy and protein.A senior that struggles with hard feed: Gentle Gain can be softened into a mash where this texture is appropriate.A horse requiring an alfalfa-free option: sainfoin is the main forage ingredient, while the full composition still needs to suit the individual.A pony that is already overweight does not need extra conditioning calories simply because it is older or has a dull coat. Identify the need before choosing the product.Can Gentle Gain be fed dry?Thunderbrook allows dry feeding to horses with good teeth that chew adequately. Soaking is recommended for older horses with dental difficulties and those that bolt their feed or are prone to choke.To make a mash, use one part Gentle Gain to two parts warm water by volume and allow about ten minutes. Check that the portion is fully softened, and offer it at a safe temperature. Weigh the dry feed first so that the daily quantity remains consistent.How much should you feed?The manufacturer's example daily amounts include 0.5kg for a lean 300kg pony and 1kg for a lean 600kg horse. Its underweight examples are 0.75kg and 1.5kg respectively. These are dry-feed quantities and starting references, not a prescription for every horse of that size.Use the current bag guidance and adjust the plan with a nutritionist according to condition, forage intake and workload. Split the ration between meals and introduce changes gradually. A severely underweight horse needs a veterinary feeding plan.What if the horse is also struggling to eat hay?Adding a small conditioning meal will not make up for a substantial shortage of forage. If chewing hay has become difficult, the horse may also need a suitable soft forage source.Thunderbrook Hay Flakes and thoroughly soaked Hay Cobs are options to discuss when planning that fibre provision. Their job is different from the conditioning role of Gentle Gain, so calculate the amounts as part of one ration.Does Gentle Gain replace a balancer?Do not assume a conditioning feed supplies a complete vitamin and mineral package at the amount you use. Thunderbrook suggests pairing Gentle Gain with an appropriate balancer. Thunderbrook Daily Essentials is one option to assess, taking account of nutrients already supplied by other feeds.Make one planned change, monitor acceptance and condition, and review the result before adding more products. You can see the composition, preparation guidance and current availability on our Gentle Gain 20kg product page.Further readingBritish Horse Society: feeding horsesBritish Horse Society: care of elderly horses