balancers.....

[Parkranger]

thanks for those of you who replied to the supplements post but I'm wondering whether a decent balancer would do the trick?

Both of mine are getting a scoop of hifi, linseed and garlic once a day, plus I'm trying to get a section a day of hay down them to promote a healthy gut.

Oscar is definately lacking salt and they are both quite bloated due to being on grass 247 so thinking of one of
the following:

http://www.feedmark.com/show_product.asp?productid=27
http://www.topspec.com/howtofeed_feedbal-LT.htm
http://www.baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk/whatproduct/general/no14.htm

Both of them are TB's so can fizz up easily - any experiences with the above would be gratefully received!

 

[scotsmare]

I use top spec on a range of horses without problem, barring one mare whose legs seem to fill. I also have used baileys outshine which was fab for the show horses.

 

[Jane_Lou]

I would suggest the Baileys Lo-Cal, gave mine great shine and enough energy without blowing his brain. Had my youngster on outshine a few weeks ago and his coat was great but he put on quite a bit of weight and after 2 weeks he blew his brain.

 

[Parkranger]

I've heard outshine has a tendancy to excite some horses - I put oscar on showmix once (ty is fine on it) but oscar definately gets fizzed up on too much oil and I'm guessing outshine is full of it!

 

[scotsmare]

We were fine with outshine - went to big county shows without an issue (filly was Warmblood x TB), phone baileys and get them to send you some samples of it so you can try it. It's not supposed to make them fizzy but is supposed to give the same result as feeding lots of oil. Sounds contradictory that - doesn't it!

 

[SirenaXVI]

TBH I would be surprised if Outshine fizzed much up, it is mainly oil and they are far more likely to get exciteable on a mix. Am trying Lo-cal on one of mine at the moment, and so far so good. I am also really pleased with the results of D&H Suregrow, am feeding it to my broodmare and my 3yo, their coats have never looked better, D&H advised that you can feed it to all horses, it is fed at the same rate as any other balancer and is under £11!

 

[Parkranger]

thanks SM - I'm not worried about shine though - it's more the nutrients - salt, stuff for gut balancing and basic mins that they're missing being on grass 247 and only getting hifi and a bit of hay.....they both get a bit of linseed oil already...although I think it's starting to fizz Oscar up already!

 

[Parkranger]

sirena - it was defo the oil in the showmix as it's mostly chaff - any of the cereal in showmix was already in the pasture mix that he got previously and that didn't fizz him up.

Hes only been on linseed for 4 days and is already more spooky etc - weird how some horses can be affected by it! Ty can eat showmix but once I put him on buildup cubes and he nearly killed me!

 

[pocket]

Baileys low cal is great and it really works, mine have been on it for ages and Ralph looks great, highly recommended.

Plus Ralph has just come runner up in the Baileys horse of the month and will appear on the web site some time this month.....got the letter and a gift voucher today, well chuffed.

So, have to plug Baileys Low Cal

 

[pippy]

baileys low cal is good and i have mine on endurence mix and alfa oil endurence mix gives that slow releasing energy without the fiss

 

[Gorgeous George]

I love Bailey lo-cal and George has that on its own with some hi-fi lite. His coat looks great and the farrier commented on how his feet have improved and I'm happy as I know he's getting his vits and minerals. Not too expensive either.

 

[SirenaXVI]

[ QUOTE ]
sirena - it was defo the oil in the showmix as it's mostly chaff - any of the cereal in showmix was already in the pasture mix that he got previously and that didn't fizz him up.

Hes only been on linseed for 4 days and is already more spooky etc - weird how some horses can be affected by it! Ty can eat showmix but once I put him on buildup cubes and he nearly killed me!

[/ QUOTE ]

It may not be the oil, could be that there is a particular grain that is perhaps not in the pasture mix but is in the showmix and the buildup and he is reacting to that. However, horses never fail to surprise me, technically they should not heat up on Alfa either, but I know that some do

 

[Samcook]

I know you haven't mentioned it but I swear by NAF pink powder. I started using it because my mare would leave the pelleted forms of balancer in the bottom of the bucket and eat the rest, so she wasn't getting any benefit. The pink powder just sticks to the feed. She looks fab all year round and I know she's getting everything she needs without bulking her feed out too much. Also, she stays very calm on it - some of the others were fizzing her up. It's cheaper to use too!

 

[Parkranger]

yeah I thought about pink powder but prefer the idea of them just having another feed base added to their feed.....if they don't get on with it I'll defo try it though!