Best balancer for 2 year old?

Kitei

Kitei

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My 2 year old cob would benefit from some additions to his diet, and we're going to a larger feed store on Thursday to get some stuff for him (our local is tiny). He's not been growing as well as he could, and hasn't ever had hard feed. Currently has turn out (3-7 hours a day, decent grass for winter) and a nice amount of haylage.

What would people advise for him?
 
My 4yo has Baileys No 14 Lo-cal balancer. Mixed with Hi-fi Lite chaff and Micronised linseed. Thats it so nothing that will heat him up. I do mix with a bit of water. I have to say that his coat and general well-being is fabulous and his feet are as hard as iron. He's out doing road work and has never had shoes on.
 
I read somewhere a while ago that Baileys Lo-cal Balancer shouldn't be fed to youngsters but cannot remember why!
My youngster did well on Baileys Stud Balancer. Might be worth you contacting some of the feed manufacturer' helplines, they're generally pretty good. :)
 
My two and half year old is getting Topspec all in one supplement with chop after recent advice from equine nutritionist. He had suregrow from six months to two years which is great stuff too
 
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Possibly not available at the feed store (but definitely available online direct with free delivery) - pure feeds balancer. I gave it to my then 2yo WB, who is now 4yo and 17.2hh & 1/2 an inch so it definitely hasn't done her growing any harm! ;). I wanted something to help provide the vits and mins she needed without adding too many calories to the diet since I wanted to keep her on the leaner side of good as a big, growing youngster to do my best to protect her from health problems, and on this balancer (combined with adlib haylage and grazing) we managed to do exactly that :). Obviously every horse is different, but the 3 I feed it to are all different breeds, sizes, and ages; all of them eat it and look good on it so I haven't been able to fault it personally :).
 
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trottingon said:
I read somewhere a while ago that Baileys Lo-cal Balancer shouldn't be fed to youngsters but cannot remember why!
My youngster did well on Baileys Stud Balancer. Might be worth you contacting some of the feed manufacturer' helplines, they're generally pretty good. :)
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When a horse reaches 2yrs it should be fed the same diet as an adult horse.
 
If you're using a stud balancer, Baileys is the best - not the cheapest (around £21 a bag), but the lowest % starch/sugar and the lowest volume to feed. D&H Suregrow is about a £5 per bag cheaper, but you have to feed more and it is MUCH higher in sugar and starch.

At 2, I would still be feeding a stud balancer so long as you aren't feeding any other hard feed. Stud balancers are higher in quality protein for growth, and are suitable for adult horses as well so you won't be doing any harm by feeding it, whereas you may not be meeting their requirements with a lo cal, particularly if they are still in growth spurt stage. My 9 yo does very well on a stud balancer - they are also much cheaper than 'original' balancers as aimed at the commercial stud market rather than leisure horse owners, so even the expensive ones are around £20 a bag compared to £30 (what my friend pays for Spillers Lite).
 
I used to feed my youngsters until 2yrs old baileys stud balancer, Fast Fibre, Just grass and micro linseed. Now they all have Pro balance instead of Baileys Stud balancer.
 
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