Balancer for Welsh d yearling

[R.F.S]

With summer turnout this week I'm looking to alter my boys feed. He's a Welsh D yearling who holds his weight well. Since weaning he's been fed sugarbeet, chaff and a multi vitamin plus adlib hay and 8 -10 hours turnout daily.

As of this week they will be on 24 hour turnout although he will come in every day for a groom/to be checked etc. He will be out on good quality pasture grazing which is approx 10cm long there are also multi vitamin blocks in the fields.

I'm looking to feed a small amount of balancer to try and regulate his growth and ensure he is getting his essential vitamins and minerals, I have looked at the topspec young stock and baileys young stock balancer but was wondering if there is a specific native balancer available ? Also as a yearling is it still best to feed young stock rather than a general balancer ?

Thanks in advance

 

[Merlod]

My favourite balancer is Formula4feet, recommended by my farrier - it is developed to be lami safe. I use it for all my natives - lami shetland, welsh d with poor feet and fat retired connemara. Topspec and lo-cal both brought on lami in the shetland.

 

[Carrots&Mints]

I used to feed my yearling D D&H Sure Grow http://www.dodsonandhorrell.com/product/suregrow I never had any problems with it and he was out majority of the time when he was a yearling. Also what about Blue Chip Native? Ive not personally used the Native one but I have used Blue Chip Original with good results, although it is expensive :|

 

[ester]

suregrow does seem to get a good rep.

Can't say re youngsters/whether it makes much of a difference but equimins advanced complete is very good spec, and -importantly - no iron.

Topspec is known to make horses footy among the barefooters though it has never been entirely clear why it should be. I also think there must be a reason why we don't feed F4F - probably the iron content.

 

[furrycat]

I fed my section D suregrow from 6 months old until about 3 years and she looked great on it and grew steadily.

 

[Merlod]

Topspec is known to make horses footy among the barefooters though it has never been entirely clear why it should be. I also think there must be a reason why we don't feed F4F - probably the iron content.

Just curious, what is the reason for removing iron from the diet? I'm not a "barefooter" but I do have two unshod ponies trimmed by the farrier, one being the shetland who has brilliant hooves - drives all day and has never needed shoes or boots.

 

[muckypony]

I would feed the Dodson & Horrell Sure Grow.

Top spec made all three of my natives (inc. Welsh D) come out in hives, I think there's something too rich in it for them.

 

[ester]

Just curious, what is the reason for removing iron from the diet? I'm not a "barefooter" but I do have two unshod ponies trimmed by the farrier, one being the shetland who has brilliant hooves - drives all day and has never needed shoes or boots.

because most uk grazing has plenty (not the same worldwide)
I do use barefooter as a slightly loose definition, I guess I mostly mean those who tend to supplement minerals along Dr Kellon's lines /received wisdom from rockley etc rather than trims per se.

 

[R.F.S]

Thanks for all your replies sure grow seems to be the most popular had a quick read up on it and will give it a go there's so much choice it's a minefield

 

[Maesfen]

Thanks for all your replies sure grow seems to be the most popular had a quick read up on it and will give it a go there's so much choice it's a minefield

Ring them, they are very helpful - and yes, I'd recommend Suregrow too; it's been fabulous for my youngsters.