Balancer...or not?

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MyBoyChe

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Have worked really hard to get weight of my highland pony as he ballooned last autumn and he is just about right now. Thats fine but now the grass is growing. I have sectioned his field off and he will be grazing about an acre all summer, this is the same field he has all year round but I rest one end of it through summer and save it for winter grazing. Because the front end is never rested it takes a while for the grass to come through but it is just starting to green up nicely. I would prefer to leave him out 24/7 but will play it by ear. I am just about to stop feeding the soaked hay but there isnt quite enough grass yet to stop him being hungry. Given that he is the ultimate good doer, would a balancer be a sensible option? His field has a natural hedgerow which he loves to graze in so Im sure he gets some benefit from that. I normally add a little magnesium to hifi at this time of year as although he doesnt usually get silly, he does get a little tense and anxious and I know our fields are low in mag. Im wondering whether to replace the hay with half a scoop of hifi with the mag in it and add a cup of balancer as well. Ive never fed a balancer before and just wondering what the benefits are?
 
A balancer contains all the vits and mins a horse needs- when fed at the recommended level. I would suggest Top Spec Lite for yours, or Blue Chip Native (but it is more expensive).
If you did not want to feed a balancer- you could put NAF Sline in with your Hi-Fi.
That also contains all the vits and mins that are needed and supports those that are on a restricted diet.
 
You'd be better off with a mineral balancer. Equivita, Progressive Earth and Forage plus all do them. They contain magnesium, and aim to balance out "average" Uk grazing. They are powdered, but will mix in with hifi etc with no issues :)
 
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