Good feed balancers

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Bowden

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Hi,

I am looking for some recomendations on feed balancers. I have a 5year old ISH horse who needs a bit of something to help general condition, (although he is not skinny) and to help him build muscle and help with feet etc........ He doesn't need anything to whizz him up as he has plenty of that, but i just want to give him a little something especially as we are coming into the colder months that isn't going to break the bank at £35 a bag!

I have read many posts and see that Top spec is good, but just wondered if there was anything else out there that people could recommend.

He is currently at grass all day and in at night with a good quality hay. He has happy hoof as well as some other yummy bits and pieces :)

Thank you.
 
Alot of the feeed merchants sent me samples, apart from horse and pony direct, much of them seem similar when you get the full breakdowns, spoilers balancer
 
I have used different feed balancers and always come back to Top Spec. Currently on the Lite, as horse is doing very little, but I notice the difference if I change to the Comprehensive when we are showing or doing lots more work.
 
I've tried Spillers light balancer, top spec lite balancer, top spec leisure time feed balancer. All seemed to do the job, however I now use pure feeds balancer. I looked at all the analysis when comparing it to others and I can't remember the exacts, but I think it compared well with the above mentioned, and also includes prebiotic. Its £30 for one 20kg bag, and the more you order the cheaper per bag it gets (10 bags are £26.50 each), delivery is free and in my experience prompt after order :). They have a range of products including their pure balance as well as just pure balance on its own. All my lot get along well with it so would recommend :). I guess its not cheap cheap but its a good quality balancer and cheaper than £35 a bag :)
 
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I've fed blue chip, baileys and spillers, been on horse and pony direct for a few months now and sticking with that, do like blue chip but its twice the price
 
I feed Blue Spilllers lite balancer - used to feed Baileys LoCal, but as the spillers is cheaper and smells much nicer, we have stuck with that :) Blue is looking really well on it too :)
 
We use Spillers Original for the competing ponies and Spillers Lite for the good doers. If horse needs more condition and muscle especially in winter adding D and H build and glow works wonders and v cost effective as need small amount.
 
HardySoul1 said:
We use Spillers Original for the competing ponies and Spillers Lite for the good doers. If horse needs more condition and muscle especially in winter adding D and H build and glow works wonders and v cost effective as need small amount.
Click to expand...

Ditto, the spec on the Spillers one is very good and I am finding it very cost effective
 
Bowden said:
Hi,

I am looking for some recomendations on feed balancers. I have a 5year old ISH horse who needs a bit of something to help general condition, (although he is not skinny) and to help him build muscle and help with feet etc........ He doesn't need anything to whizz him up as he has plenty of that, but i just want to give him a little something especially as we are coming into the colder months that isn't going to break the bank at £35 a bag!

I have read many posts and see that Top spec is good, but just wondered if there was anything else out there that people could recommend.

He is currently at grass all day and in at night with a good quality hay. He has happy hoof as well as some other yummy bits and pieces :)

Thank you.
Click to expand...
I've used Bailey's Lo-cal to good effect. It can be used as a feed balancer or on its own as an "aid to slimming". It isn't as expensive as it looks as you don't use large amounts in either case and you don't need to feed extra vitamin/mineral supplements. As it doesn't contain barley it doesn't fry my normally placid ID's brains (he's very barley intolerant - it turns him into a dangerous lunatic!!) and he loves the taste.
 
^^^ agree all the way - Bailey's Lo Cal is great. Usually about £24 a bag and lasts about 6 weeks based on 3 cups a day. My lad has the shiniest coat and has maintained a good weight on it (16.2 warmblood x)
 
Have a look at progressive earth, they do a couple of full spectrum suppliments that are balanced to the average UK forage. You just add a tiny scoop to fast fibre or speedibeet or something. I use pro hoof which isn't cheap but the probalance is cheaper. Their customer service is second to none too.

My other suggestion would be pure feed company, my mare did very well on their feeds last winter.
 
I use spillers lite for my ISH good doer, I changed from baileys lo cal and have seen the improvement in her feet and coat. She gets a handful of happy hoof and I have started using winergy when she needs more energy and competing.
 
I've tried TopSpec and Baileys Lo Cal after reading all the hype in here, and was disappointed. Total pants; complete waste if money imo. And now I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole - full of crap that they don't need.

I agree with Progressive Earth - pro hoof or pro balance would get my vote these days.
 
I did a quick comparison for a friend recently of a couple for price.

Fed at their recommended rates for a big horse

Progressive earth pro hoof £30.99 for 30 days
Forageplus Winter balancer £44 for 50 days (or £38 if you are using the summer balancer)

However unless you buy enough to get free postage, Forage plus have higher postage.

But there was a thread on here the other day where someone had noticed that the levels of minerals were not the same in their recommended dose so a true comparison would have you feeding half the amount of forageplus or double dose of pro hoof.
 
Look at the ingredients - see what else is in these balancers aside from minerals - which is presumably what you're trying to balance. If it is the minerals you're balancing, you cant do this accurately without a forage analysis.

Also the levels in the generic ones tend to be rather low and of poor sources when compared to the likes of Pro Hood / Forage Plus.

Thats the type of thing you need to look at to make sure you're getting bang for your buck :)
 
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