Top Spec Balancer - cheaper alternative?

[SunshineTallulah]

Just ordered some more TS Comp Balancer and its £36 a bag and as we are feeling the pinch financially..... just wondered what other feeds I could consider?

The thing is I love TS and the fact that its a balancer and I only need to add a bit of Dengie to it come winter or summer and I dont need to mess around with Sugar Beet or several bags of feed. Plus my horse stays the same and doesnt have those sugar rushes he used to on other "cheap feeds".

Suggestions? If any???

 

[TarantuLove]

I love TS too but had to change off it because of the price. The powdered supplement is cheaper, but if you want a pellet Baileys Lo Cal is quite good also. Or the D&H ultimate balancer.

 

[ISHmad]

Top Spec have the best specification of any balancer on the market according to independent comparisons made. So you could change to a cheaper one but then get what you pay for if that makes sense?

 

[TarantuLove]

Benevit (when fed at full dose) is almost comparable to TopSpec's vit/min spec

 

[TGM]

What are you actually feeding the balancer for? If it is just for the vit/min content then a broad spectrum vit/min supplement like Equivite or Benevit would be considerably cheaper.

 

[supagran]

we use TS Balancer, one bag lasts for about 6-8 wks per horse and actually works out cheaper than competition mix when fed at the correct amount. TS are very good on the phone, we've phoned them loads for advice. Our event mare gets one cupful twice a day and about a round scoop of Alfa A and looks fantastic on it. Been using it for two years now, and evented to BE Novice level on this diet (with ad lib haylage), fantastic coat, sane mind and happy horse. Stay with it!

 

[Tinkle]

I was using the Top Spec Balancer, however, it was getting rather too expensive. I've swapped both of mine onto the Top Spec Lite version (which is cheaper) and I haven't noticed any difference in their condition, health etc.

x

 

[onemoretime]

Pink Powder

 

[CrazyMare]

TopSpec Comprehensive, won't change. Would cut out something else to make sure they had it. One is a bit older and looks amazing, one is a youngster who I want to make sure gets all the nutrients required.

 

[MillionDollar]

D&H Suregrow, about £16 per bag and just as good as TS.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Baileys No 14, Lo Cal Balancer, it's about £22 a bag. I changed to that some months ago from Blue Chip due to cost. My horses are doing very well on it, there's been no noticable change...... except in my wallet.

 

[Orangehorse]

I use TS Balancer as well, but since mine is a mature horse and hasn't been doing any work to speak of over winter I give him half ration and that is how I fed my previous hot and fizzy TB. He is carrying more than enough weight and is getting lots of hay.

Obviously if they are working hard - eventing, doing regular shows then I increase it.

 

[Orangehorse]

I use TS Balancer as well, but since mine is a mature horse and hasn't been doing any work to speak of over winter I give him half ration and that is how I fed my previous hot and fizzy TB. He is carrying more than enough weight and is getting lots of hay.

Obviously if they are working hard - eventing, doing regular shows then I increase it.

I wonder where you bought your bag for £36 because at Countrywide I was charged £41 for the last one and I did think that was expensive. I only noticed as they had put Blue Chip on the invoice so I rang up to change it and when the altered invoice came through I was a bit taken aback at the cost.

 

[K27]

You could try Equivite if it's just for vit/mins or Baileys no 14 Lo Cal Balancer if you want a balancer.

 

[SunshineTallulah]

I was advised by a very good friend that a balancer would be a good investment for my horse.

He is 19 and in good condition. He is an RC horse in light - medium work and I wanted a feedstuff that would provide him with all his vits and mins and would not fire him up.

ALongside his TS, I do feed (work depending) either Hi Fi lite in the summer as we have good grazing or Alfa A Oil in the winter.

So would I be better off just feeding the Dengie with a vit/min supplement or changing to something like Baileys Balancer?

 

[friesianfan69]

I got my mare on TS half ration with sugar beet and alpha oil on ad lib hay, echo what someone else said you get what you pay for.

 

[TGM]

[ QUOTE ]
So would I be better off just feeding the Dengie with a vit/min supplement or changing to something like Baileys Balancer?

[/ QUOTE ] If you are just feeding it for the vit/mins, then I would say go for the vit/min supplement. Balancers do have other purposes than just the supply of vit/mins though - for example they boosts the protein content of the diet, but as you are already feeding Alfa A Oil which is high in protein, you probably don't need the protein content of the balancer.

Most balancers also contain probiotics or yeasts, which help maintain the good bacteria in the gut. However, it is likely that a healthy horse with plenty of turnout, a high fibre diet and no recent history of stress or antibiotic treatment probably doesn't need the probiotic/yeast content of a balancer.

If you feel you want a halfway house between the Top Spec and a plain vit/min supplement, then the Baileys Lo Cal is lower in protein than the TS and but still contains Yea-Sacc to add the gut flora.

 

[ISHmad]

[ QUOTE ]
Benevit (when fed at full dose) is almost comparable to TopSpec's vit/min spec

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly - almost comparable but not the same.

 

[SunshineTallulah]

TS said that to be effective you need to feed the correct dosage for your horses height / weight etc.

Am still not really sure what to do.......

May take him off Alfa A oil when I run out and put him on the normal Alfa A.

This feeding lark is very confusing and I don't know what to do for the best really.

 

[TGM]

Why don't you ring TS and see whether one of their cheaper balancers such as the Lite or Leisure Time would be suitable for him. I really can't see that you need the high protein content of the Comprehensive if you are giving Alfa A Oil as well.

Changing from Alfa A Oil to Alfa A Original won't actually save you money in real terms, because the Alfa A Oil is higher in calories than the Alfa A, so although the bag price is higher, the price per calorie is similar. So you would have to feed more Alfa A than Alfa A Oil to get the same amount of calories into your horse!

 

[Tinkle]

As TGM says why don't you try one of the cheaper Top Spec balancers. I considered the Leisure Time balancer for my two as I didn't feel (as a 5yr old all-rounder and a 19yr old semi-retired) they really needed to be on the comprehensive balancer. However, unfortunately the Leisure Time balancer doesn't have the same biotin in it and I felt that was important for my youngster as his feet weren't great and my mare has just had her shoes removed. Think I pay around £25 now for the Lite balancer.

x

 

[SunshineTallulah]

[ QUOTE ]
Why don't you ring TS and see whether one of their cheaper balancers such as the Lite or Leisure Time would be suitable for him. I really can't see that you need the high protein content of the Comprehensive if you are giving Alfa A Oil as well.

Changing from Alfa A Oil to Alfa A Original won't actually save you money in real terms, because the Alfa A Oil is higher in calories than the Alfa A, so although the bag price is higher, the price per calorie is similar. So you would have to feed more Alfa A than Alfa A Oil to get the same amount of calories into your horse!

[/ QUOTE ]

Excellent point!

I will call Nicola and will see what she says.

Thanks

 

[FinkleyGladiator]

[ QUOTE ]
D&H Suregrow, about £16 per bag and just as good as TS.

[/ QUOTE ]

my instructor did a study and proved this

ive been paying alot less than that though (more like £7-8 ish)
mind you i dont pay the bills