Spillers Original Balancer Vs Top Spec Comp??

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Booga22

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As per title really, I am considering changing from Top Spec Comp to Spillers Original Balancer. There is a £10 difference per bag, but obviously i don't want to compromise quality (not that I have any problem with Spillers btw!!!!) so was just wondering if anyone else has changed and if so, what did you think?
Thanking you muchly!
 
I use the Feed XL service and can vouch for the Top Spec Comprehensive being A LOT more comprehensive in what it contains and the levels it contains. I have my hay and grazing analysed and balance my horse's ration carefully. If I used Top Spec Comprehensive it would dramatically reduce the number of individual vitamins and minerals I would need to buy in. I could actually stop buying the majority if I switched to the Comprehensive TopSpec product. When looking at using any of the other balancers out there (Spillers, Baileys and D&H - comprehensive and Lo Cal versions) I find I would still need to 'top-up' my horse's diet with the full range of additional supplements that are low in her forage analysis. ATM I am using up my stores of individual vits/mins but once these are used up I fully plan to switch to Top Spec Comprehensive as it will work out considerably cheaper than me balancing the ration myself.
 
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I compared levels of vitamins etc when changing to a Balancer a year ago. Top Spec .Comprehensive' was v impressive, but they still advocated adding extras to this despite the Comprehensive tag. No idea about the above posters needs.
I have had mine on Spillers Original, they look great and performing brilliantly and winning.
I'm perfectly happy with Spillers, and the low cost is a bonus!
 
I'd still have to supplement certain minerals particularly low in our forage AND add additional joint supplements even if I switched to TopSpec Comprehensive, but compared to me buying in 9 different bags of individual minerals and supplements to add to my forage-only-diet like I do now - using the TS Comp balancer would work out cheaper (for me). If I used any of the other balancers out there I would still need to 'top up' with numerous individual supplements which wouldn't really save me money in the long run. The individual supplements I presently buy to balance my horse's ration are expensive! Defo works out cheaper to buy a decent balancer and go from there IMO.

I guess it depends how complicated you wish to make 'balancing' your horse's diet. I must admit, it came as quite a shock just how 'unbalanced' balancers were when viewed against my forage analysis. Even fed at slightly increased levels (my mare is 620kgs), along with good quality forage, they all fall short of supplying a fully balanced diet. So what exactly are they 'balancing'? IMO, in many cases, people would be just as well to buy a good quality comprehensive vit/min supplement and add that to their horses ration instead.
 
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Thanks for your replies Guys. I would love to get our forage anaylised however due to the floods impeccable timing it meant our hay isn't of it's usual great quality (I'm not saying it's bad, but the floods and heavy rain have affected it from the previous year's cut), I have also bought in 2 different lots of hay and pony also has Horsehage low sugar haylage at night, so I could be all day trying to get an accurate picture of what she's actually getting but do appreciate the need sto feed a balanced diet
She also has to have a couple of other extras as she suffers from high stress ansd sweet itch, so I am trying to stay on top of finances yet still give her a good diet
I have been a Top Spec fan for years but after shelling out a lot over the last few months for extra bedding, hay and vets fess (though the insurance have had to fork out a lot more - sorry!) following surgery 2 months ago, I'm looking for adjustments!! ;)
 
Booga22 said:
Thanks for your replies Guys. I would love to get our forage anaylised however due to the floods impeccable timing it meant our hay isn't of it's usual great quality (I'm not saying it's bad, but the floods and heavy rain have affected it from the previous year's cut), I have also bought in 2 different lots of hay and pony also has Horsehage low sugar haylage at night, so I could be all day trying to get an accurate picture of what she's actually getting but do appreciate the need sto feed a balanced diet
She also has to have a couple of other extras as she suffers from high stress ansd sweet itch, so I am trying to stay on top of finances yet still give her a good diet
I have been a Top Spec fan for years but after shelling out a lot over the last few months for extra bedding, hay and vets fess (though the insurance have had to fork out a lot more - sorry!) following surgery 2 months ago, I'm looking for adjustments!! ;)
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I know what you mean about the expense. Good old horses for you, eh!

The balancer my mare liked best was Bailey's Lo Cal. I use this in summer as my mare will eat it even when she's not particularly hungry after eating ad lib grass. She wont eat her mineral mix in summer as she's simply not all that hungry and I think it must taste a little unappealing as she'll only eat it when in over night in the winter. The best value balancer for ingredients and price I've found (so far) is Spiller's Lite balancer. Mole Avon near me sell it for under £15 per bag and I was impressed with the nutritional levels. Slightly better in some respects than the Bailey's Lo Cal.
 
My sister changed her two good doers from Baileys Lo Cal to Spillers Lite as difficulties getting the Baileys.They look lovely on it, but they might on any balancer of course! 40p a day plus hay : thumbs up:
 
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