dumpling
Well-Known Member
Thick question- To those of you that give a balancer , why do you give it? When my boy was a youngster we gave him baileys no27(I think that's it!) at the time he was only on a handful of chaff aswell.
Balancers
- Thread starter dumpling
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dumpling
Well-Known Member
That sounds terrible, it sounds like I didn't know why I was giving him it then!
What I'm looking to find out is why feed a balancer, would you be wasting your time if you gave a general supplement aswell?
What I'm looking to find out is why feed a balancer, would you be wasting your time if you gave a general supplement aswell?
TGM
Well-Known Member
Most balancers will provide a combination of protein, vitamins and minerals, and a probiotic.
General vitamin and mineral supplements usually just contains vitamins and minerals.
So you might choose a balancer over a general supplement if you think the horse needs the additional protein and probiotic. For example, if a horse is on soaked hay and poor grazing and no additional bucket feed, then it may need the additional protein in the balancer. The probiotic is meant to improve conditions in the hind gut so the horse can make the most of the food it eats, so useful for poor doers or those whose hind gut function may have been compromised in some way, due to stress, antibiotic treatment, lack of fibre in the diet etc.
General vitamin and mineral supplements usually just contains vitamins and minerals.
So you might choose a balancer over a general supplement if you think the horse needs the additional protein and probiotic. For example, if a horse is on soaked hay and poor grazing and no additional bucket feed, then it may need the additional protein in the balancer. The probiotic is meant to improve conditions in the hind gut so the horse can make the most of the food it eats, so useful for poor doers or those whose hind gut function may have been compromised in some way, due to stress, antibiotic treatment, lack of fibre in the diet etc.
dumpling
Well-Known Member
Ah I see, thanks. I think that would've been why I fed it years ago , as he was hardly getting anything we just wanted to ensure he had 'everything'.
Thanks, I think he is doing find just now and will perhaps just think of the supplement.
Thanks, I think he is doing find just now and will perhaps just think of the supplement.
canteron
Well-Known Member
Ha, my new favourite subject!!
We cut our own forage from our fields. Having had the hay analysed I now know exactly what to feed my horses to 'balance' the minerals etc lacking in his food. I am waiting to see if there is an improvement in hoof quality, as I often think thats where it shows most clearly.
I think a lot of the grass fields in this country is of questionable quality for horses and if (as I am) you are relying on that for the majority of their feed, then having it tested is very enlightening (www.forageplus.com ... not particularly easy or cheap, but very very interesting!!).
If on the other hand you are buying specific grass hay/haylage and rely on hard feed quite a lot then you probably have less need of a balancer?
We cut our own forage from our fields. Having had the hay analysed I now know exactly what to feed my horses to 'balance' the minerals etc lacking in his food. I am waiting to see if there is an improvement in hoof quality, as I often think thats where it shows most clearly.
I think a lot of the grass fields in this country is of questionable quality for horses and if (as I am) you are relying on that for the majority of their feed, then having it tested is very enlightening (www.forageplus.com ... not particularly easy or cheap, but very very interesting!!).
If on the other hand you are buying specific grass hay/haylage and rely on hard feed quite a lot then you probably have less need of a balancer?
redredruby
Well-Known Member
I use a senior balancer for my horse and it has made a real difference to him.
I give him a balancer because I want to make sure that he has all the necessary nutrients / minerals that he could need and I don't think he gets that just from his hay and hard feed. I do also feed him superflex.
I give him a balancer because I want to make sure that he has all the necessary nutrients / minerals that he could need and I don't think he gets that just from his hay and hard feed. I do also feed him superflex.