Balancers for older horses?? Spillers??

Hels_Bells

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I am thinking about adding a balancer to my 2 elderly horses diets this winter. I have a very elderly ID x TB who does well on his feed but because of his age is not really a good doer any more, and also a 24yo good doer native breed. They do well on 16+ but in winter need a bit more and I think a balancer would be really beneficial to them this winter to ensure they are getting enough vits and mins.

It would be great if I could feed them the same balancer (I wouldn't want to be feed 3 different balancers to 3 different horses if possible as my eventer is on Bailey's performance balancer and that would be too many bags for me!!! ;)).

I have seen an advert for Spiller's senior balancer - does anyone else use this with success?? Are there any other specific balancers for older horses on the market?

I have also heard that many balancers are much of a muchness and stud balancer can be a good all round balancer. I don't want to feed Top Spec as it's v pricey and I think other cheaper balancers would probably do as good a job. Am not sure if Lo-Cal balancer would be suitable for my 32yo as he's no longer a good doer!!!

What are people's thoughts - I might then phone up the relevant feed co's for a chat to check we're on the right lines?!!!
 
I've been using Topspec senior for about 18 months and want to compare the spec to the new spillers one but haven't got the full info yet on that one. I've also just this weekend priced up buying separate general vit/mins, digestive supplement and joint supplement which are all in the topspec one, and haven't been able to get all those in for anywhere near what the topspec costs per day, lowest priced good quality/spec supplements I found came in at about £1 per day more expensive than the topspec costs. Seeing as I do want my 2 oldies to have everything the topspec has in it, as well as the concentrated energy it provides (12.5MJ de/kg), I think it looks like I'm sticking with that!
 
Spillers Gro and Win is the one I give to my yearling and he looks fab on it- it does say on the bag that it can be given to older (working) horses needing extra vits/mins, or something to that effect.... £17.95 per bag.
 
My sisters 19 year old is nanny to my yearling and so we feed them both the same, Dodson and Horrell suregrow. She's never looked so well as she does now, used to have to pump her full of feed before her retirement. It's around £12 a bag.
 
Email them and they can advise on the suitability for your horses. It definitely makes it easier feeding the same feed.
 
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