Supplement or Balancer

[superpony]

I have a 16.1hh ISH 6 year old mare who I have owned for two years. Generally, in the school she is quite laid back and lazy... however, jumping/at competitions she is much more switched on. She can be a bit sharp at times but is generally pretty laid back. Up until now, I have been feeding her a handful of Hi Fi Lite and some fibre beet as she has looked and felt amazing on this.

She is now out 24/7 and I am upping the work level (she is ridden 5 days a week and is out competing at 80 level eventing). She feels like she could just do with a bit more stamina at times but without making her too buzzy! She is also loves her food and I am constantly watching her weight!! She is like a native pony and is kept on a bare paddock... therefore we do not need any more calories.

Obviously, I know in an ideal world she should be on a supplement/balancer so starting there. I have always fed TopSpec balancers in the past but I am open to other ideas. I was looking at the Topspec All in One supplement (never fed this) or one of the balancers. I have two others so I could do with keep costs down as much as possible but I do want to feed a quality product.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Barton Bounty]

You could try something like this

 

[Jambarissa]

I've always fed balancers but recently switched to a powdered supplement designed to balance uk forage. Balancers have additional ingredients to turn them into pellets and I thought my mate might be allergic so going back to basics.

A supplement would add negligible calories but give her anything she's missing out on, she needs certain nutrients to aid in energy conversation so it could be that. A balancer would supply extra calories and protein alongside the nutrients (generally at lower levels than the supplement) so I guess it depends on what you think the issue is.

 

[Sugar Plum]

As your horse appears to be a good doer, I would start there, and of course consideration for ulcers vs empty stomachs. There are low calorie balancers out there, just check there isn't anything that will fizz up your horse too much (i.e. avoid high cereal / sugar content). I prefer to feed my horses rather than starve them which you can only do with careful consideration of calories which it sounds like you are doing already.