Is Top Spec worth the money?

Apercrumbie

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My tbx has very bad feet and my farrier has recommended a feed balancer that has everything he needs to help sort them out. I've been doing some research online and it sounds like Top Spec has the best all-round feed but it's very pricey so I'm a bit nervous. So basically, do you think it is worth the cost and are there any other similar quality but cheaper alternatives? Thanks very much :)
 
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All my horses are on Top Spec Anti Lam balancer. Not because they are laminitic but because they are all good doers. They have fantastic quality feet and always look the picture of health. We've fed Top Spec for years and wouldn't use anything else. Time and again they come up top in independent tests for the content of their balancers.

There are cheaper balancers out there but I've never used anything else.
 
I used to feed my old Tb top spec, he was in pretty bad condition when i had him, i did allot of research on feed ballancers first and top spec was by far the best and i must admit after a few weeks he looked fab you could definatly see the differance.
I have my two on top spec light now because they are both good doers,
Its great stuff and well worth th money in my oipion... :-)
 
Another recommendation from me! Its all I feed (in terms of hard feed) in the summer and as a bag lasts 5-6 weeks it doesn't work out too expensive. Its also cheaper than pumping them full of conditioning mixes and cubes.

However, if you're only feeding it for the feet - my farrier recommends Kevin Bacons hoof supplement. I discussed it with the Top Spec nutritionists and they also really highly rated the Kevin Bacon but said it cannot be fed as well as the top spec - its either or.
 
I started feeding top spec to my horse in November and he has never been better, worked better or been in better condition (it has made him a little more lively, not spooky or silly, just willing to work, whereas I use to struggle with energy and motivation with him). It is pricey I agree but I dont even feed the recommended amount. Along with a good chaff I would definatley recommend it.
 
Topspec products tend to have lots of other goodies in apart from vits and minerals, so check the labels of everything you are comparing. Most people I know who feed topspec don't feed other supplements, whereas plenty of people I know who feed other balancers feed many different things too, so the cost evens out there.

If your horse is getting an otherwise balanced diet (and this can only really be fully known if you analyse your grass and forage) then the only vitamin which has been proven to improve feet when fed in excess is biotin (vitamin H) which can be bought alone fairly cheaply.
 
I've tried to find the info but can't so can anyone here who uses this tell me if the Leisure Balancer has molassas in it? I need a different feed for my sugar intolerant cob as the Calm and Condition is wet feed and due to his constant scouring I'm wanting to change him onto a dry feed...but try finding one that isn't smoothered in molasses!! Problem is I cannot give him laminatic feed (even though most of that has molassas also!) because he needs more energy feeds due to poor grazing and he drops weight easily!!!:rolleyes:
 
Thanks guys - really helpful.

LouandBee - I too have used Kevin Bacon supplement (although not on this horse) and it really works. However, it is very expensive and I would rather feed him something that already has the stuff he needs in it. I didn't mention that he is 22 and is starting to find keeping condition quite tough so a balancer is perfect. I'm about to ring their nutritional line to ask them which balancer would suit him. I'm dreading that they'll say the senior one. Although it sounds brilliant, it's over £40 a bag and I don't think I will be able to sustain this. Ideally, he will be on the leisure balancer as he isn't in a huge amount of work.
 
I've tried to find the info but can't so can anyone here who uses this tell me if the Leisure Balancer has molassas in it? I need a different feed for my sugar intolerant cob as the Calm and Condition is wet feed and due to his constant scouring I'm wanting to change him onto a dry feed...but try finding one that isn't smoothered in molasses!! Problem is I cannot give him laminatic feed (even though most of that has molassas also!) because he needs more energy feeds due to poor grazing and he drops weight easily!!!:rolleyes:

Calm and Condition is a Baileys product and needs to be soaked. Top Spec Cool and Condition doesn't need soaking.
 
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