alfa a balancers -topspec - lo cal?

[Stinkbomb]

Ive been feeding the minis just baileys local over the winter whilst they have been wintered out. Ive now brought them in and i need to start conditioning Inky for some shows later this year. I have started feeding him a handful of alfa a oil and speedybeet to start with but as i increase his work load ( lunging / walking etc ) i know i will have to add alittle extra. Till then i was wondering whether i should continue with the lo cal or try another balancer for their vits etc... Im thinking maybe i should try something with a few more calories than the lo cal.

Has anyone any experience of topspec or the new alfa a balancers??

 

[RobinHood]

My ponies have lo-cal and hifi all year round, and they do really well on it with shiny coats and good feet. One of them dropped off a bit during the weeks of heavy rain so he has alpha a oil instead which has worked really well.

Polo (connemara) is in much harder work so he has topspec balancer, topspec cool condition cubes and unmolassed sugar beet shreds. He's held his condition really well and again his coat and feet look good. He has more than enough energy on it to keep up with the big boys out hunting and easily stays past 2nd horses.

 

[JaneB]

None of them will have any more calories than Lo-Cal as balancers don't. You could just add some h& p cubes or sugarbeet, depending on how much extra condition you need. Keep feeding the Lo-Cal to provide vits, mins and protein for muscle.

 

[SmartieBean09]

I use Top Spec and find it is brilliant stuff. Had used Lo-cal and Blue chip in the past but found myself going back to Top Spec. Really helped pick up my mare when she lost a lot of weight.

My instructor who runs a competition yard also has all of her horses Top Spec.

What about introducing a high oil supplement for condition such as Outshine, Equijewel or Build and Glow? Have never used them myself but have read that they are good for adding condition.

 

[imafluffybunny]

Baileys stud balancer is amazing, my broodmares have topline to die for and I even have my competition horses on it.
I only feed stud balancer, alpha a oil and sugar beet.

Just to add I feed half the reccomended amount.

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
None of them will have any more calories than Lo-Cal as balancers don't.

[/ QUOTE ] Balancers don't what? Have any calories? Sorry, that is wrong! For example, Lo Cal has 11.7 MJDE/kg, Bailey's Stud Balancer has 12.7 MJDE/kg and Equilibra and Top Spec Comprehensive have 14 MJDE/kg. However, because they are fed in relatively small quantities they don't provide a significant amount of calories to the diet. The reason they are often recommended for weight gain is because it is thought that the probiotics/prebiotics in them help maintain a healthy gut bacteria enabling the horse to make the most of the food it receives.

 

[SirenaXVI]

Wot she said

Balancers provide a good base, try upping to a higher quality chaff like Alfalfa or one of the grass based chops and adding some conditioning cubes, Speedibeet is also a good way to get both fibre and calories in.