Should I feed a balancer/supplement for fatty over winter?

CobsGalore

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So I am already trying to work out whether I need to feed my overweight (new) horse this winter any sort of balancer or supplement?

He will live out 24/7 as un rugged as possible with hay put in the field.

I really doubt he will need any sort of hard feed at all, but I don't know whether I should be adding a lo-cal balancer or a mineral/vitamin supplement to a bit of chaff for him?

I would be interested in hearing what others do with their good-doers over the winter?

Thanks :)
 
My good doers have topspec lite balancer with a handful of dengie good doer chaff. I find this works well for them. :)
 
Why don't you see how you go first? You can always start it if you need to.
I will not be feeding my fatties any balancer, I used to, but they seem to do just as well without it.

I don't feed myself a daily balancer or supplement, (am I abnormal?) I am as fit as a fiddle, all my bits and all my teeth, general very good health and now in middle age. I don't go OTT about what I allow myself to eat. On that basis, I don't feel the need to supplement my ponies' diets any more despite what the feed companies marketing departments advise me. I would rather feed them "whole" food which is instantly recognisable as what it is, rather than pay a premium for some processed, artificial, micronised, extruded, something or other they may not need in the first place.
 
On that basis, I don't feel the need to supplement my ponies' diets any more despite what the feed companies marketing departments advise me. I would rather feed them "whole" food which is instantly recognisable as what it is, rather than pay a premium for some processed, artificial, micronised, extruded, something or other they may not need in the first place.

Thanks. I think that's the problem - feed companies market the balancers to you like your horse/pony will not survive without them!

Sorry, what sort of thing do you mean by 'whole foods'?
 
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