I feed 1/2 cup of ground flax to all of my horses at each meal for skin and coat. It comes in a 40lb bag from the feed store and is stabilized, so it won’t go rancid (which is generally the argument against keeping ground flax on hand). I also add 2 pumps of Rice Bran Oil for my two young fillies and both coats have just blossomed on this regimen - if you don’t mind the old boy getting a few extra calories from the oil, you might consider that as well.
OP-you will see a big improvement in your horse’s condition when you switch to TC Senior. It’s a much better product than the Solutions. If you still want to supplement for skin/coat, ask about TC Omega Max. It is stabilized ground golden flax. Or, just throw a big handful of whole flax in his bucket-that will work, too.
I always soaked the whole flax before I fed it. The manure piles looked less like chia pets.
[QUOTE=lesson junkie;8316795]
OP-you will see a big improvement in your horse’s condition when you switch to TC Senior. It’s a much better product than the Solutions. If you still want to supplement for skin/coat, ask about TC Omega Max. It is stabilized ground golden flax. Or, just throw a big handful of whole flax in his bucket-that will work, too.
I always soaked the whole flax before I fed it. The manure piles looked less like chia pets.[/QUOTE]
I’m surprised JB hasn’t chimed in yet about the deworming. Have your vet pull a fecal on him to see where you’re at first. Panacur is pretty much useless. Depending on results of FEC, Quest + is normally what I use in the Fall. RE: the Omega Max by TC, great product, BUT I just switched to grinding my own flax because it’s 1/2 the price. I don’t really think the grinding is necessary, I fought it for quite some time, but I have a little coffee bean grinder and until it kicks the bucket I’m doing it. 
I too think your handsome fellow would benefit from more/better hay 1st of all, then the TC Senior. I’d add a heaping cup of the flax and a cup of some sort of oil as well. He’ll bloom quickly on this, I’d imagine. I can’t wait to see the “after” photo…
[QUOTE=Simkie;8316260]
IME, track horses are often wormed in a haphazard manner, and they probably have more exposure than most with a lot of horses wormed (or not being wormed) on wildly divergent schedules all in the very tight environment that is the track.
Tapes and encysted strongyles are probably the most missed in a general “give them what’s on sale” sort of regime, and they are both big culprits in a horse that can’t seem to gain weight.
A single dose of panacur isn’t likely to do a whole lot, anyway, due to widespread resistance. If that’s what was given, it would raise some questions in my mind, were I the owner, about how well he’s been dewormed at all. Especially since you’re having trouble with his weight.
So hit him with equimax + a power pak, or quest plus and call it good 
This is an easy thing to address, and is always a good box to check with a new horse, anyway, nevermind one that’s a bit thin.[/QUOTE]
Gonna have to disagree with you Simkie on one point although most of the time you are right on the money. Agree that the worming schedule of race horses can be tricky if they are claimers and get claimed a couple times a year. The change in trainers means who knows when/if they get wormed. But they tend to eat in isolation, since stalls are mucked daily and manure is hauled away, so there would be no re-infestation or contamination from horse to horse.
[QUOTE=Flash44;8317640]
Gonna have to disagree with you Simkie on one point although most of the time you are right on the money. Agree that the worming schedule of race horses can be tricky if they are claimers and get claimed a couple times a year. The change in trainers means who knows when/if they get wormed. But they tend to eat in isolation, since stalls are mucked daily and manure is hauled away, so there would be no re-infestation or contamination from horse to horse.[/QUOTE]
Funny, Flash–before I posted, I was thinking about that and waffled a bit on that particular point I was picturing the times I saw horses go back into dirty stalls (not necessarily their own) or hand graze. Also the off season when they do often live in groups where manure management might be a concern.
What it comes down to for me is that in general, taking a horse off the track is a big ol’ question mark on the worming front, and it’s better to error on the side of assuming it’s not been treated than assuming it has been treated, especially when it’s thinner than you’d like to see
