Feeding TopSpec Balancer

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anuvb

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My trakehner has just started to drop condition after the long winter. I'd been doing quite well to keep him in shape, but noticed about two weeks ago that he wasn't as 'bright' as I'd like him to be.

I've upped the quantitiy of cool mix, but as he's naturally fizzy pumping him full of cubes can just wind him up, and speedibeet and haylage proved a bit of a no no this winter as well. Whilst he spat out his feed with oil in it.

As it's going into summer I thought I might try popping him on topspec balancer, but am concerned that he will continue to drop weight if I use it as his only source of hard feed (although he gets plenty of hay and chaff as well).

What's other people's experiences, is this likely to happen?

Do you have to feed it as a complete ration replacement? Or can I feed it to supplement his current feed? Do you always feed it at the 'recommended' dose?
 
I've got a 16.1hh welsh x tb. I feed him the balancer along with the conditioning flakes and chaff, sugarbeet and supps.
The balancer he gets one mug full a day and the flakes dependant on his work load, varying from 1/4 scoop to 3/4 scoop.
 
The balancer is excellent stuff, and really works with helping them make the most of their feed. I would stick with the cool mix you have been feeding, add the TS and drop the amount of feed if needed.
 
Yes, as Kat says, you can add the balancer to the mix - my veteran has topspec senior with her senior mix.
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Thanks everyone.

Kat B do you feed the full amount (ie 100g per 100 kg) or do you feed a reduced amount as you're still feeding mix?

SMID - I probably should have said he's a youngster and his workload is increasing steadily, so I need to keep his intake appropriate to his level of work - hence the increase in cool mix. He's still not on a lot as I'm conscious of the spring grass, but need to work out the best balance for him...
 
my poor doer gets topspec and Alfa-A and looks fabulous- he has lived out all winter too!

my tb who is a good doer get topspec and hifi lite. she is eventing at Intro/PN and has plenty of energy and condition.

both of them are well covered with a really good shine to their coat, good feet etc.

btw, they are 4yro and 6yro.
the 4yro is the poor doer and is already 17.2hh so i think the topspec does fantastically to keep him looking well when he is so big and still growing.
 
I feed my lean TB mare half rations of TopSpec balancer as she gets enough Calm and Condition to get full rations of vits and mins from that (apparently over 1kg of C&C per day provides all vit and min needs) but I'm carrying on with reduced TopSpec for extra support for her feet and gut.

So yes, can feed any amount needed and if you're feeding less than recommended rations of hard feed then can use reduced amounts of TS to make up their vits and mins, and keep costs down! over supplementation won't do any harm, you'll just produce very expensive urine!
 
Mine is similar to MegaBeast really. I feed 2kg of Winergy Equilibrium which provides full vitamins & minerals so I am only feeding half rations of TopSpec. I spoke to TopSpec about this and they agreed this was the best thing to do because my horse still gets all the benefits of TopSpec (and therefore can get the most out of her Winergy ) without over supplementing on vitamins & minerals. As soon as the grass comes and I feed less Winergy I will give the full amount of TopSpec.
 
I feed Topspec in Winter as my horse can lose condition. I feed it alongside his normal ration which is minimal as too much hard feed blows his brains. As previously said though I wouldnt worry too much as spring is nearly here.
This year I went to my feed merchant and he said I was wasting my money with a balancer as he said they are meant to 'balance' straight feeds and the way I was feeding it as in alongside an already balanced feed was pointless. Im not sure how true this is though.
Top spec do do a conditioning flake too but Ive never seen it anywhere for sale.
 
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they are meant to 'balance' straight feeds and the way I was feeding it as in alongside an already balanced feed was pointless. .

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That is true but in my opinion it depends on whose feed. I'd trust one of the big brands to be properly balanced but wouldn't be so confident with the cheaper own brand stuff which is when I'd be keener to feed balancer in full rations.

The TopSpec cubes and flakes aren't balanced and are meant to be fed in conjunction with their balancer
 
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