Balancers

[Stenners]

Those that feed balancers - what do you all use/recommend? Do you also feed a chaff of some sort alongside?

 

[fidleyspromise]

I was recommended spillers lite and lean but the amount needed to be fed I felt was ridiculous especially for an overweight pony I use a powder supplement.

I use progressive earth pro balance but I know some horses don't find it palatable.
I feed a small amount of fast fibre with it.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I have a heavy horse so use Forageplus powder balancers. This means I dont need to give massive bucket feeds to get the right balance of vits and minerals. As it's a powder I mix it with 3 quarters of a Stubbs scoop of Dengie Alfa-A chaff, and some water.

He looks happy and shiny on Forageplus and farrier is happy with hoof health so I'm happy.

 

[ecb89]

I use top spec lite. Gets mixed with a handful of chaff. He’s happy on it. I’m happy he’s happy.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I use progressive earth pro balance or hoof platinum with a small amount of grass chaff and spillers speedy mash.

 

[Polos Mum]

If you read the small print lots of balancers have to be fed in huge volume to get the required level of vits and mins.

A broad supplement might be easier.

If you don't want to faff with powder - Equimins advanced complete is in pellets and they have a small handful to give a proper dose of everything.

 

[Stenners]

I use top spec lite. Gets mixed with a handful of chaff. He’s happy on it. I’m happy he’s happy.

TopSpec have recommended this for my mare as well. I have used TS before and really like their feeds but not always the cheapest!

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Top spec lite for mine used with speedi beet/soaked grass fibre cubes.

 

[teddy_]

I feed mine TopSpec Comprehensive Balancer and TopSpec Linseed Mash. It's a great combo and my boy looks amazing on it.

I don't feed chaff as he has access to ad-lib hay (even in the field).

I tend to find a high quality balancer does most of the work and I have never found it heating either.

 

[Surbie]

I have a heavy horse too (both meanings!) and he gets Forageplus. As it's a powder, I mix it with a small handful of soaked Agrobs wiesencobs and some Honeychop lite & healthy.

 

[maddielove]

Another vote for powder balancers, I have tried all the Science supplements ones and really like them but away to try Progressive earths Platinum Performance to see if I can economize on some additional supplements (Joint/amino acids)
I like being able to feed less feed overall when they look porky but not compromise on vits and mins.

 

[Follysmum]

Pro balance from progressive earth mixed in grass nuts and grass chaff

 

[Coblover63]

Another vote for ForagePlus. My traditional cob has their winter balancer all year round and it is brilliant for her skin/coat/hooves and general wellbeing.

 

[Roxylola]

Forage plus (fortunately) do trial packs. I'd recommend that to start if you go down that route - Charlie categorically refuses to eat their balancer no matter what scrummies it's with.
I feed baileys performance balancer and he keeps well on it. I was feeding it with alfa oil for the extra energy but I'm trialling pink mash at the moment- forever chasing something that might improve his mallanders without upsetting the rest of him

 

[SO1]

I use Blue Chip native pelleted and mixed with small handful of chaff.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I use the Spillers balancers - our grazing is poor and we don't really feed other hard feed (the two in EMS-friendly paddock get some chaff with theirs), only hay, so it works for us.

 

[Stenners]

Does anyone feed TopSpec Performance Lite?

 

[Ratface]

I've used TopSpec balancers for a long time. I've always had good results. Currently using TopSpec LamiLite, following horse's laminitic episode three years ago.

 

[Breagha]

I use Baileys stud balancer for all 3 of my horses. Section a, cob and ID. It has a higher protein percentage and not heating.

 

[teddy_]

Does anyone feed TopSpec Performance Lite?

I have used Performance Lite on a well covered native that was in a fair amount of work with good results.

Love TopSpec, never had any issues with their feed heating horses.

 

[laura_nash]

I used to use forage plus powder balancer, adjusted based on forage analysis, in a bit of fast fibre. Can't get either now (thanks Brexit) so I'm using Top Spec Lite, as the best of the options available. So far have been pleasantly surprised how well they are doing on it (both barefoot). I don't use any chaff with it (they have trugs of straw chaff, but not as part of the bucket feed).

 

[ecb89]

My ID is on top spec lite, really suits him.

 

[Auslander]

Topspec Comprehensive for all my liveries, on the advice of my vet, who said it has the best spec, and all the others in the range are lower spec. I have skinnies, fatties and one with EMS, and they all look great on it.
Alf has Equimins Advance Complete, because it makes his coat bloom, and hes on Equimins Inflamerase anyway, so I just buy both at the same time

 

[jnb]

Equimins Advance complete - was on Top Spec Comprehensive when he came over from Ireland as needed worming and some good vits/minerals to grow on, then o Top Spec Lite but switched to a barefoot diet as he is (barefoot) & so far so good. Powdered though as he despises the pellets!

 

[Burnttoast]

Ours are on the Forageplus balancer plus extra minerals to match grass analysis, and beetroot powder to improve palatability.

 

[HackWithMe]

baileys no 14 lo cal balancer is good. Horses look better than ever! I use a scoop of no molasses dengie chaff to slow down and bulk up a few of the horses feeds. It can be fed dampened or for horses who are older or like their feed soaked it absorbs into a mash if you add enough water. It’s highly palatable too which is a bonus