Cost effective/best balancer options?

[asbocob]

Hello all! I'm sure this has been done to death but after browsing some previous threads I think I have managed to narrow it down slightly. I'm currently feeding equimins advance complete powder in the 4kg tub, I can get this for approx £60 and will last me 50 days but I was wondering if I could get similar for any cheaper? Obviously if this is what is best I'm happy to pay for it but given the cost of living crisis, any small saving helps! I've been looking at the progressive earth ranges and the science supplements leisure balancer but without knowing exactly what vitamins/minerals a horse needs, I'm finding it difficult to discern which is a good/mid/bad balancer. I understand iron can be avoided but otherwise slightly clueless. I'm also happy to pay an independent nutritionist for their input if they would be able to advise, thinking potentially a bigger initial outlay money wise may save going forward. I'm assuming, like most things with horses, this could be pretty subjective so all opinions welcome. Thanks so much.

 

[Equi]

It’s not something I’ve ever really bothered with. I’ve never noticed any negative effects. But my horses have hedges and the grass isn’t cow pasture.

 

[GreyDot]

I feed this - if you subscribe you get it with a 10% discount. I get one every five weeks and it's free delivery. Just a small scoop a day so easy to add to any amount of feed.

Joint Care Super Concentrated Feed Balancer - For daily joint support

Blue Chip Joint Care is a revolutionary formula harnessing the natural power of turmeric, black pepper and oils, alongside glucosamine, which work to promote healthy joint function and movement. Combining the correct levels of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, along with a complete...

bluechipfeed.com

 

[SO1]

Feedmark essentials supersaver about £37 for three months iron free and a powder.

 

[BlackIrishBeauty]

I feed this - if you subscribe you get it with a 10% discount. I get one every five weeks and it's free delivery. Just a small scoop a day so easy to add to any amount of feed.

Joint Care Super Concentrated Feed Balancer - For daily joint support

Blue Chip Joint Care is a revolutionary formula harnessing the natural power of turmeric, black pepper and oils, alongside glucosamine, which work to promote healthy joint function and movement. Combining the correct levels of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, along with a complete...

bluechipfeed.com

I second these concentrated balancers. I've been feeding them for some time now and I actually save vs getting the bigger bags.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I was using One Cup. Its 10.99 from Amazon (also available other places, just amazon is easy and free post!) Its a 3kg bag and is just easy! It's a pelleted one which for me is pretty important as my horses refuses most supplements if they are powdered or liquid, this stuff he happily eats out of my hand like a treat.
However I've recently stopped and notice no difference at all.

 

[lynz88]

I've been using Equilibra for the past almost 2 months and I've recently added their Farriers Aid which is by no means cheap/the cheapest option but have noticed a huge difference compared to the Forage Plus Hoof & Skin. Horse managed to fight off the majority of his sarcoids by adding oily herbs but has 2 stubborn ones which feel like they have shrunk (I regularly check) lately. He is SHINY and has gone quite dark and also noticed some firmer poo. I also had some skin pigment issues between him bum cheeks that FP was never able to fully resolve (FP was able to resolve some other skin pigment issues around his nose but not around his bum) but it's all seemed to be solved. I've had a lot of people comment on how good he is looking. We have had feet issues over the past little while but we had issues on the FP as well. I have taken him off his vit E but am thinking about putting him back on just as I think he is a horse that really does need it, perhaps all year round but am still debating. Also debating on whether I continue or try something else but this seems to be working for him.

 

[Irish-Only]

Bloom n Sheen from Tithebarn

 

[fidleyspromise]

I use Progressive Earth Pro Balance Basic. It's the only thing that helps my mares hooves. She has a crack in near fore and over the last 16 years she's had 3 abscesses there but no other hoof and we can often get the crack to a tiny hole but within a few months it will reopen before growing down to nothing. I've tried a few other supplements but it always ends up worse. Before Progressive Earth my mare had thin soles but since then (2013) her hooves have hardened and become concave). I know some people have issues with palatability of it though.
I've just put my youngster on it so all 3 of mine are eating it. My other mare went off it for a few months but she went through a stage of eating a new food for 2 weeks and then stopping. She then ate a food from Horseward for a few weeks before refusing it too and then suddenly went back to Progressive Earth no problem.

Equilibra sounds good.

I had an independent nutritionist and wasn't entirely convinced as they said they couldn't recommend progressive earth as they couldn't be sure it was quality ingredients used and therefore would recommend spillers. I priced it and it was going to be 1 bag every 21 days and 1 bag Alfalfa every 50 days for two ponies and cost me twice as much as the food I was using.

 

[WBGG]

Feedmark essentials supersaver about £37 for three months iron free and a powder.

I have recently been trying to cut my supplements bill as well as I was feeding Bozmerix, NAF Gastriaid and a separate balancer, which were costing me an arm and a leg!! (Bozmerix £50 a month, Balancer about £20 a month, Gastriaid about £20...terrifying!!)

I have started my retired, stiff, ulcer prone mare on a bespoke mix from feedmark, including their Super saver balancer, flexamine joint supplement, Magnesium, brewers yeast, yea-sacc and hedge herbs. It works out at about £30 a month. It's powdered, I just add to her chaff and mix with some water. She can be fussy with feeds, but it smells lovely and she really enjoys it.

You can often get discounts and you get reward points as well for more money off

 

[stangs]

I have started my retired, stiff, ulcer prone mare on a bespoke mix from feedmark, including their Super saver balancer, flexamine joint supplement, Magnesium, brewers yeast, yea-sacc and hedge herbs. It works out at about £30 a month. It's powdered, I just add to her chaff and mix with some water. She can be fussy with feeds, but it smells lovely and she really enjoys it.

You can often get discounts and you get reward points as well for more money off

Do they tell you the quantities of each ingredient? I’m struggling to imagine how one scoop could have enough of each ingredient to be significant.

 

[Highmileagecob]

I have used Equilibra for years. It works for my old boy.

 

[SO1]

This is the supersaver the scoops are quite large.

https://www.feedmark.com/en/supersaver14-2?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw65-zBhBkEiwAjrqRMOnwoT9XvNnDSmW22yjjN5rCS4PYwOA8j6Go1lpLsg-CPeTGEZicyxoCNagQAvD_BwE

Do they tell you the quantities of each ingredient? I’m struggling to imagine how one scoop could have enough of each ingredient to be significant.

 

[WBGG]

Do they tell you the quantities of each ingredient? I’m struggling to imagine how one scoop could have enough of each ingredient to be significant.

Hi,
Yes you put in your horse's weight on the website when ordering and work level and they calculate it for you with the right amount of each ingredient. They mix it for you and tell you how much to feed per day for your horse. So it's a bespoke supplement. Hope this helps

 

[Fjord]

I'm feeding Marstall Force balancer, it's a cheap pelleted balancer and I buy it by the sack in my local tack shop.

 

[Spirit7]

I use Progressive Earth Pro Balance Basic. It's the only thing that helps my mares hooves. She has a crack in near fore and over the last 16 years she's had 3 abscesses there but no other hoof and we can often get the crack to a tiny hole but within a few months it will reopen before growing down to nothing. I've tried a few other supplements but it always ends up worse. Before Progressive Earth my mare had thin soles but since then (2013) her hooves have hardened and become concave). I know some people have issues with palatability of it though.
I've just put my youngster on it so all 3 of mine are eating it. My other mare went off it for a few months but she went through a stage of eating a new food for 2 weeks and then stopping. She then ate a food from Horseward for a few weeks before refusing it too and then suddenly went back to Progressive Earth no problem.

Equilibra sounds good.

I had an independent nutritionist and wasn't entirely convinced as they said they couldn't recommend progressive earth as they couldn't be sure it was quality ingredients used and therefore would recommend spillers. I priced it and it was going to be 1 bag every 21 days and 1 bag Alfalfa every 50 days for two ponies and cost me twice as much as the food I was using.

I’ve got 3 unshod on pro earth, large warmblood and Welsh A on pro lamini and my youngster on pro youngster- expensive but really good. I’ve used FP and most others over last 13 years of unshod horses….never equimins though so couldn’t comment on how good that is.

 

[Dontforgetaboutme]

I feed this - if you subscribe you get it with a 10% discount. I get one every five weeks and it's free delivery. Just a small scoop a day so easy to add to any amount of feed.

Joint Care Super Concentrated Feed Balancer - For daily joint support

Blue Chip Joint Care is a revolutionary formula harnessing the natural power of turmeric, black pepper and oils, alongside glucosamine, which work to promote healthy joint function and movement. Combining the correct levels of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients, along with a complete...

bluechipfeed.com

Yep I have my two on this, I get on subscription & with loyalty points it is pretty reasonable. I used to use forage plus at twice the price, probably is better by my leisure horses just needed a bit extra than their forage gives them