Progressive Earth Balancer - Any cheaper alternatives?

[KatWuh]

Hi

I've been giving my horse the Pro Earth Pro Hoof balancer for the last few months to help with a transition to barefoot behind - he eats it and seems to be doing well on it. I've just ordered another few months supply but it is quite pricey (postage is £7.99 as well!) Just wanted to see whether anybody uses anything similar but cheaper they could recommend?

 

[fidleyspromise]

I opted for their pro balance + rather than hoof when I transitioned. My horse has been barefoot 13 years after shod all round with thin soles and crumbling hoof.
I had a new farrier this week as mine is ill and he commented how strong her hooves are - concavity and strong soles.

 

[Roxylola]

My farrier commented on how bons feet were better when I swapped from farriers formula to pro hoof. So I'd stick with it.
But you can order bigger packs, or multiples both work out cheaper and postage is same. I generally get 2 lots of 60 day bags

 

[Tiddlypom]

Pro Balance+ rather than Pro Hoof.

 

[criso]

There's s couple they do called pro essential or pro mineral which use oxide forms of copper and zinc and therefore much cheaper.

 

[Highmileagecob]

I switched to Equilibra some years ago, as the omega 3 content was a possible support for lung function. Can't fault it, and my old boy is 29 and still looking good!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I struggled to get mine to eat it so I buy spillers daily balancer none of theirs have added iron but lots do, I know it's pellets and there is a bit of mollases but they love it.

 

[ycbm]

I found it a lot cheaper to use the separate things the horse needed.

I used to supplement copper sulphate, zinc sulphate, magnesium oxide (as calmag, 25kg for £15). Those are the core things. For gut health I also fed yeasacc. And salt because some people say it's necessary and it's cheap and harmless.

When I moved I didn't need salt because the place was on a salt plain, but I did then need selenium.

I would give vitamin E to all horses December-April, and all the time to a horse that doesn't get much green grass.
.

 

[SO1]

I have just started Bert on feedmark essential super saver 14 vitamins and minerals it is iron free. Cost about £13 a month including postage. Prior to that he didn't have anything.

 

[vam]

I have feed most of them at some point depending on finances. Pro mineral and Pro balance basic work well but i've gone onto Pro balance plus coming into summer when her grazing is more restricted and covers pretty much all the bits i need and it works out at about £20 per month which is more manageable.

 

[JoannaC]

I use the probalance + and it has made such a difference to their feet. I've started hacking more and my mare hasn't been footy at all and considering how wet is been i'm impressed. I thought i'd have to put her in shoes once I upped the work but so far so good. It is pricey though especially now i've put the oldies on the veteran one, I was wondering how to make it last longer without compromising the good it does. I was debating on half a scoop over the summer rather than a full.

 

[criso]

I did a spreadsheet a while back comparing some balancers with cost per day and level of key minerals. I'll dig it out.

 

[criso]

See if this link works.

supplement comparison 2023.xlsx

1drv.ms

It's best to download and open in excel as easier to read in a spreadsheet.

However cheapest are pro mineral (39p per day) pro balance basic (63p) and equinatural (51p)

All these manage to have good levels of essential minerals but manage to be cheaper as they use sulphate/oxides of copper/zinc instead of bioplex.

 

[JoannaC]

I always search for coupons when I order as well and usually manage to get 10 or 20% off using those which is always satisfying.

 

[Fieldlife]

I feed progressive earth pro hoof platinum. I buy 5 months worth at once to get free postage.

 

[lynz88]

I switched to Equilibra some years ago, as the omega 3 content was a possible support for lung function. Can't fault it, and my old boy is 29 and still looking good!

I started mine on Equilibra about 3 - 3.5 weeks ago. I've had a number of people comment on how well he suddenly looks. Without my weight (and in the indoor school which he loves in terms of footing), he is moving out more so wondering if the omega 3 content is helping. We are really struggling with the wet and feet atm (have been struggling since Nov/Dec) though so am going to throw their Farriers Aid at him as well and see. He was previously on Forage Plus hoof and skin. Vet took a look at him today because he had to be dragged in and though we have feet issues still, she said he is looking better overall and was impressed with a quick lunge in the indoor.

 

[Highmileagecob]

The constant wet and mud has eventually led to a bad thrush outbreak for Old Dobbin. I have packed his feet with Field Paste for a week, and am now slathering his frogs in zinc and castor oil cream when he comes in at night. Healing well, but then the field has drained and the ground is hardening up. Last week he threw a gas colic into the mix, but has recovered well. The grass is somehow different this year and producing all sorts of effects.

 

[lynz88]

That's exactly what I said on another thread about the grass and this year. I am not sure that we have ever had 2 years of rain (if you think about it, it didn't stop raining last summer through the winter and now this "spring"). I've now asked for mine to have haylage removed and hay soaked which I've never had to do

 

[KatWuh]

Thanks all for your replies, some things to think about when my current stash of Pro Hoof runs low!