Alternative to balancers

[I don’t like mondays]

I’ve always fed a balancer and chaff (plus additional supplement for joints) then linseed for weight gain. I’ve also fed Omega rice. I’ve heard people say balancers are a bit of a marketing ploy an I seem to spend a lot of them. Is there a cheaper way to feed whilst making sure ponies get decent nutrients.

2 veterans 13.2 and 15h both in light work but poor doers in winter. Living out unlimited access to hay.

Any ideas of what to feed to keep condition that won’t break the bank and gives all the vitamins and minerals. Thanks

 

[criso]

Might be worth looking at some of the Progressive Earth budget options, either Pro Balance basic or pro mineral.. it tells you you long a bag will last at different feeding rates to work out if it's cheaper than what you are currently feeding.

There's no flavourings, just the essential vitamins and minerals so not so good for fussy feeders or you need something tasty to feed it in.

https://progressive-earth.com/product-category/budget-equine-supplements-forage-balancers-premixes/

 

[spotty_pony2]

I use Equimins Tip Top supplement - it’s a super concentrated balancer so is a tiny little feed scoop and you can get it in pellet or powder form. A tub lasts me 2 months for one horse and it’s about £20.

 

[LEC]

This is Claire the independent nutritionist recommendations for a balanced diet

 

[TPO]

This is Claire the independent nutritionist recommendations for a balanced diet

Seems a strange list.

No Forage Plus at all, missing a lot from the Progressive Earth range (ProBalance, ProBalance+, etc) and both manufacturers are better formulated supplements than the D&H and SS options listed.

Although since discovering that this nutritionist is a shouty vet fan & supporter of the nonsense that SV posts I've lost all respect for her and her opinions.

In short OP a good vit/min supplement is essential, even more so at this time of year when all the goodness is out of the grass.

 

[Marigold4]

I am in the process of having my grass and haylage analysed by Forageplus. Hopefully, that will tell me what is missing in my horse's diet. Then I can add in whatever is lacking, rather than a general balancer. The analysis is expensive (and takes forever, nearly 3 weeks and still no results) but hoping in the long run, it will save money. Also planning to add vit e in the winter regardless of test results.

 

[Spirit7]

I feed pro youngster to my 4 year old and pro laminae + to my others. Massive difference to their feet and general well-being - all unshod and great!

 

[criso]

Seems a strange list.

No Forage Plus at all, missing a lot from the Progressive Earth range (ProBalance, ProBalance+, etc) and both manufacturers are better formulated supplements than the D&H and SS options listed.

Although since discovering that this nutritionist is a shouty vet fan & supporter of the nonsense that SV posts I've lost all respect for her and her opinions.

In short OP a good vit/min supplement is essential, even more so at this time of year when all the goodness is out of the grass.

There was some sort of falling out with forage plus. Their formulation is pretty close to the Progressive Earth ones so it's not logical that one is listed and one isn't on the basis of contents.

I only mentioned the progressive earth ones as they have a couple of budget options.

 

[TPO]

There was some sort of falling out with forage plus. Their formulation is pretty close to the Progressive Earth ones so it's not logical that one is listed and one isn't on the basis of contents.

I only mentioned the progressive earth ones as they have a couple of budget options.

100% with you on the Progressive Earth recommendations

 

[HBB]

Seems a strange list.

No Forage Plus at all, missing a lot from the Progressive Earth range (ProBalance, ProBalance+, etc) and both manufacturers are better formulated supplements than the D&H and SS options listed.

Although since discovering that this nutritionist is a shouty vet fan & supporter of the nonsense that SV posts I've lost all respect for her and her opinions.

In short OP a good vit/min supplement is essential, even more so at this time of year when all the goodness is out of the grass.

I too found it a very strange list and it does make me question how "Independent" and unbiased this equine nutritionist actually is after her recent SV endorsement.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I did use progressive earth but they just won't eat the full dose so I use spillers daily balancer or the joint one along side it, it works fairly well o just feed half a dose from each abd it doesn't work out too expensive.

One of mine won't touch equimins so wanted something they both eat rather than buy multiple things.

 

[Lamehorses]

I'd heard / seen discussions about balancers being unnecessary so 2 years ago I stopped feeding one ( progressive earth pro balance +)
That winter my cob had 3 abcesses, When the 3rd abcess appeared I reintroduced the balancer. Not had an abcess since. ( hope I haven't jinxed myself )
Hope that helps ny decision processes.

 

[onemoretime]

I did use progressive earth but they just won't eat the full dose so I use spillers daily balancer or the joint one along side it, it works fairly well o just feed half a dose from each abd it doesn't work out too expensive.

One of mine won't touch equimins so wanted something they both eat rather than buy multiple things.

I feed the Spillers Original balancer to my mare. She works 5 to 6 days a week and competes advanced medium dressage. I also feed Spillers Stamina cubes and TB chaff with it. She looks and feels very well but none of this makes her silly.

 

[onemoretime]

I'd heard / seen discussions about balancers being unnecessary so 2 years ago I stopped feeding one ( progressive earth pro balance +)
That winter my cob had 3 abcesses, When the 3rd abcess appeared I reintroduced the balancer. Not had an abcess since. ( hope I haven't jinxed myself )
Hope that helps ny decision processes.

Wow that is interesting.

 

[Follysmum]

Progressive earth products are fab
My farrier said he can definitely see a difference since using on 1 horse in particular that had rubbish cracked hooves. They are perfect now

 

[Pinkvboots]

I feed the Spillers Original balancer to my mare. She works 5 to 6 days a week and competes advanced medium dressage. I also feed Spillers Stamina cubes and TB chaff with it. She looks and feels very well but none of this makes her silly.

Spillers are one of the only feeds I can feed my Arab's alot if other brands send them nuts.

 

[LEC]

I am on mole valley cheap vits/mins which has the essentials at the moment as can’t be arsed to even stress myself out about whether it’s truly balanced. I have had haylage analysed and it’s not changed anything I do as I knew we would be low copper. I also have progressive earth that I haven’t used yet but will do when mole valley is done.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Mine are on Dengie meadow grass chaff with herbs and oil, d&h hedgerow herbs and forage plus hoof and skin balancer.

They look very well on it… Mim sometimes looks too well!!

 

[lynz88]

I switched from FP Hoof & Skin to Equimins AC and the frizzy burnt looking fur on mine has all disappeared (he had this start before putting him on the FP including pigmentation changes which FP did help with). We still have feet problems usually depending on how he was trimmed but seems that we haven't got the soft soles overall that we did this time last year. I've been away and bogged down with life for the last month and a bit so he's not been getting hoof clay or keratex or anything so can only pressume the balancer is helping. We now have weight issues but think it's related to removing as much sugars and alfalfa as possible as he seems to be sensitive to this

 

[Exasperated]

I too found it a very strange list and it does make me question how "Independent" and unbiased this equine nutritionist actually is after her recent SV endorsement.

Well, no science operates in a vacuum:
you need to consider the nutritionist’s CV, which most professionals in business willingly provide:
where and when original degree was conducted, subsequent research degrees, CPD undertaken as nutritional science unfolds over the years, placements and employment history - to put any recommendations in the correct context.
(Sadly, also need to consider trending fashions in the horse world, and recognise that any business person needs to be careful about being seen as unsupportive of shouty others, on social media)

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

One of mine had lymes relapse this year and recovery was slow. Vet advised a balancer to give her a hand. I've used 365 before with good results. The bigger tubs have more of a discount. She looked great on it.

 

[Chianti]

Seems a strange list.

No Forage Plus at all, missing a lot from the Progressive Earth range (ProBalance, ProBalance+, etc) and both manufacturers are better formulated supplements than the D&H and SS options listed.

Although since discovering that this nutritionist is a shouty vet fan & supporter of the nonsense that SV posts I've lost all respect for her and her opinions.

In short OP a good vit/min supplement is essential, even more so at this time of year when all the goodness is out of the grass.

I think when she put the list up on Facebook she said that some makes weren't on it because she didn't like the way the firm did business. I found this quite strange as surely that's up to the buyer to make a decision on - not her. I've used 365 Complete for years and have always been very happy with it but it's not on her list. I do find some of her posts very useful as she has to monitor the weight of her ponies, as do I. I didn't realise that she was a shouty vet supporter as she's never mentioned her on her Facebook page.

 

[criso]

I think when she put the list up on Facebook she said that some makes weren't on it because she didn't like the way the firm did business

I'd have more sympathy with this point of view if Thunderbrooks wasn't on her recommendations list.

 

[SO1]

I have a good doer so probably not so relevant for you but I have him on feedmark super saver iron free vitamins and minerals. It is a powder and works out at about £12 a month but he is 6 year old 13.2 NF. He has it mixed with a bit of dengie mollasses free. His coat sparkles and I am hoping that his feet will be better this winter. He was not on any balancer or vitamins last winter as he had always been on only grass and hay with his previous owner so he only having a bit of dengie mollasses free at bfast and dinner as on part livery routine. He sometimes has some top spec zero as well.

He is on soaked hay and muzzled when going in the rested fields we have plenty of grass and his field companions are all 16.2 or bigger sports horse types so his needs are very different from the other liveries. Only rugged in extreme weather and his favourite pass time is rolling in mud. When he was weighed by top spec at the last weigh in they said he was the best in terms of weight.

Normally comes in looking like the first photo. Second photo after being groomed and getting mud off.