Alternatives to Baileys #4 Cubes?

Hels_Bells

Hels_Bells

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My horse has been on 2kg per day of Baileys #4 for about 3 years now and has done tremendously well on them. He originally couldn't keep weight on so they have really solved the problem.

I really like Baileys #4 and I don't want to tinker with what works so well, but we are literally getting through a whole bag each week and it just works out so expensive!!

So I am considering putting him on something else that might be a more cost effective alternative.

In the summer when he is in hard work and eventing he doesn't really get enough energy from them so I end up switching to racehorse mix or similar, which is fine.

I am wondering whether Allen and Page Power and performance might be a good solution as we will be eventing from the end of this month? Does anyone use it and what do they think?. (You seem to get more for your money with A&P e.g. a bag of A&P Fast Fibre for my other horse on similar quantities of feed seems to last 1.5-2 weeks compared to Baileys High Fibre which lasted only 1 week i.e. you seem to get more for your money with A&P feeds). He originally came to me on Calm and Condition but it wasn't doing anything for him weight wise so I switched to Baileys #4. He is now a much better doer as I think a lot of his weight problems were related to the bad back and headshaking (i.e. general pain) problem he came with which are now much better, so am a bit more willing to try other things now.

Just wondering what people's thoughts are or what other brands might be recommended.
 
Sorry I'm not actually going to say anything helpful but...

I orginally had my gelding on A&P calm and condition, a bag seemed to last him about 3 weeks. I then put him on Bailey's no.4 for various reasons and it does a great job, but I agree, it lasts me about 1.5 weeks! So really does work out expensive!!
 
Not much, but D&H build up cubes are about £1.50 a bag cheaper and in terms of nutritional balue are pretty much equal to number 4, seem to work as well for my girl :)
 
For condition I use TS Cool Conditioning Cubes, cheaper than No4. I also used less.
Friends have had excellent results with D&H Slow release mix/cubes also.
 
horsewriter said:
don't look at brands look at the research and nutrients!!
Don't worry I won't - I'm not as pig ignorant as they say, don't believe a word of it!!! ;) :D

Thanks for all the suggestions so far guys. I will definitely take a look into them all.

In all honesty, he's in great shape going into summer and I don't think he really needs a conditioning feed as such right now, it's really for just over winter when it's cold and grass is lacking that it's necessary, but something that will give him the stamina, vits and mins he needs for eventing and the ability to maintain his present condition, plus a bit more value for money for me if possible would be a wonderful thing!!
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What about a balancer? Topspec?

Fed alongside alfa-a should give plenty of energy and sustain condition...

as an aside - No4 is AMAZING! We put my mate's horse on it a couple of weeks ago and after a few of DAYS (no joke!) you could see a difference and he ad noticably filled out after a week. AMAZING!
 
I agree CBFan - It is AMAZING stuff!! And I owe a great deal to it! My guy was a hat rack for years before I got him and put him on #4 and he now looks fantastic and keeps his condition well through winter but it's just not what he needs at this time of year and for his workload. It doesn't give him enough energy for eventing. Last year I did give him a balancer with racehorse mix and alfa a but it still didn't seem to give him his sparkle back at the 3/4 point of the season. So as I'm prepared this year I want to look into alternatives before he gets to the point where the sparkle goes! I would just worry that Alfa-A and balancer alone isn't enough for him given he gets a scoop of alfa a oil per day with his 2Kg of #4, plus sugarbeet. Though I suppose if I was feeding a LOT of Alfa A it could work? Will have to take a look at the bag tonight to see what quantities would be needed...
 
Hello you! Have a look on Baileys website, I am sure it says that their no 2 horse and pony cubes are very similar to no 4 but lower calorie. May be worth a look. Perhaps give half rations of this and gradually introduce power and performance during the run up to a competition if he needs it?
 
Baileys also manufacture the Hilight range of feeds (which were Clarke & Butcher). The Hilight Conditioning cubes are very similar to No 4, without having the two bags in front of me, I think the differences are mainly the levels of vits and min (not Jockey Club approved), also £3 a bag difference.
 
Hey SmartieBean! How are you doing? I will PM you!

Thanks so much for the intel SpotTR - that is really interesting! It might be worth giving him that plus some balancer to make sure he gets the vits and mins! Great idea!
 
I use baileys no.4 but others on my yard use just cheap, own branded Conditioning cubes. The nutritional analysis is virtually the same for them both to be honest but the cheaper cubes are £6 a bag as oppose to my £11.36 Baileys bag!!

The cheaper ones seem to do the same job, its just im a "brandophobe" when it comes to feeds!! :)
 
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