Anyone feed TopSpec?

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celia

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Thinking of giving the beast TopSpec Comprehensive and have a quick question for you all please -

Is there any difference between the balancer and the supplement? Have been for a look at the website and can't see anything obvious but surely everyone would be buying the supplement (as seems about £10 cheaper!) if they were exactly the same just in a different form? *is confused*

Also is there much of a difference between TopSpec and Blue Chip or is it just personal preference?
 
According to this site, which has a comparison of various supplements/balancers:

http://www.freewebs.com/higgyleiko/

the main difference between the balancer and the supplement is the levels of protein, oil and probiotics.

The supplement provides a similar level of vit/mins but is only 4% protein, whereas the Comprehensive Balancer is 25% protein. Supplement only 1.5% oil, balancer 6% oil. Supplement has no probiotics/yeast, whereas balancer does have them.

The probiotics/yeast are meant to provide favourable conditions for gut bacteria to help the horse get the most out of the feed it eats. A lot of healthy horses on a fibre-based diet won't actually need a probiotic, but could be useful if horse has been ill, stressed or undergone antibiotic treatment.

The protein content is useful if the rest of the diet lacks protein - for example if you are feeding poorish/average quality hay and no other feedstuffs. If you are feeding a good quality haylage or have other good sources of protein in the diet, then the protein content of the balancer might not be so necessary for your horse.
 
Thank you for that - exactly what I was hoping for! He is already fed alpha oil and doesn't need the extra protein so looks as though the supplement will be better for him. It was mainly the biotin and other bits for the hooves that I wanted to check were as good as this is hopefully to replace the hoof stuff I have him on currently.

That's an excellent spread sheet - have got it saved for future reference, thanks.
 
The balancer is more of a complete feed, whereas the Supplement is just that
smile.gif
 
I used to feed the supplement, but current horse wouldn't touch it. Asked them to send me a sample of the balancer, which she duly ate. Have been using it for 14 months now, and my feed bills are actually lower than before I switched... Kept 3/4 TB competition fit and looking great all season on that at 3/4 dose and a fistful of sugarbeet, living out 24/7 on very average grass. Quite pleased!
 
I've had my horses on the balancer for years now, they all do well on it. I have my 2 mares with foals at foot on the cool conditioning cubes too.

I had one of the above mares on Blue Chip once but it sent her absolutely loopy, so changed to Topspec with no problems.
 
I have all four of my lot on Top Spec balancer. Ages range from 4 -29, from Highland x to Bavarian Warmblood and they all look fantastic on it. Used to use Blue Chip, but have found Top Spec gets better results.
 
TopSpec balancer is great for feet, farrier commented last week how much better the horn is. Only downside is they now grow so quickly that she needs shoeing every 4-5 weeks rather than 8-9!
 
Thanks for replies - sounds pretty good stuff!

Megabeast - I would love his feet to grow more! He's currently unshod as has had very lazy year (for various reasons) and has his feet done every 8/9 weeks with farrier still having hardly anything to take off. His feet are looking better after time without shoes though (he's always had typical poor TB feet) and am hoping to get them in top condition before he has them back on early next year.
 
I use TS balancer. IMO it is fantastic stuff, my two have fantastic feet, and OH's horse has brilliant feet for a TB, which are definatly better since hes been on TS.

Definatly gets a thumbs up from me.
 
Other thing which has done wonders for my mares feet (typical TB ones) is putting eucalyptus oil on any little cracks, nail holes, flaws etc. Apparently it knits the horn together and makes it stronger and it certainly does. Normally her clenches rise after 10 days but they stayed nice and tight for 5 weeks, none of the old nail holes have caused cracks or turned into chunks missing so I swear by the stuff.
 
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