TopSpec Cool condition cubes Vs Cool balancer?

[Dusty85]

Hi there,

Im struggling to choose between two products and wondering what thoughts people had.

I have a 7YO 16.2hh TB (med weight) who weighs approx 550kg. He is ridden roughly 5 times per week (depending on work hours/how wild the weather is!) and will be doing BE 90s this season, along with unaff ODE/SJ/Dress.

He looks pretty good at the moment, but what with his work stepping up to get him fit, I'm thinking he needs something extra in his feed to a) help keep a good condition (top line, coat health muscle development) and b) replace any salts he is loosing and make sure he's not deficient in anything else.

He currently has x2 large nets of haylage per day, grazing from 9am-3pm. He is fed twice per day on a pretty standard hacking mix and Dengie alfa A along with Newmarket supplement glucosamine.

I am wondering which topspec product to choose- the balance or the cool condition mix?

I dont want anything too heating, but as his work steps up he will need a bit more energy. he's on full livery and so I was hoping not to have to replace his food entirely as that will be an extra cost by me.

Does anyone else feed one or both of these?

Thoughts please and sorry about the essay!!

 

[Dusty85]

PS. the reason Im probably going to choose TopSpec is another horse at the yard has been on the cool balancer for some time now and he looks fab (and he's 18) plus his owner has said that it hasn't turned him loony!

 

[whizzer]

Not tried the cool balancer but I swear by the cool condition cubes for my poor doer TB who's incredibly feed sensitive. I've used them for the last few winters but this winter decided to experiment with another feed & he looked dreadful. Put him back on the cubes & instantly picked back up again.

 

[whizzer]

The cubes don't contain any vitamins etc though,TS recommend the cubes & one of their balancers. I don't use a pelleted balancer but instead use pink powder or the feedmark powdered balancer.

 

[Dusty85]

Hmmm, I was hoping to not have to start him on both! :/ Agree about the cubes not containing all the vits and mins though!

 

[Venevidivici]

We use the top spec cool condition cubes when any horse needs building up,either just condition,or muscle/bulking up (but we feed them for this in conjunction with the horse doing more work too.) They have always worked,on a variety of different horses and achieve results pretty quick (always seen a difference in 2 to 3 wks when feeding at recommended amounts.) I researched similar products 2 or 3 yrs ago and found these cubes to be superior in terms of ingredient levelsrice,therefore were best value.

 

[Venevidivici]

Ps we feed them additionally to whatever chaff/fibre the horse is on and most have been on a balancer too (either top spec pelleted balancer,top spec all in one,or pink powder-depending on the horse!). We don't have any permanently on a maintenance amount of the cool con cubes,we just use them for periods,as & when needed.

 

[Venevidivici]

Sorry,the cheeky smiley wasn't intended! I had typed a colon & that appeared! Should read 'ingredient vs price - were best value.'

 

[Dusty85]

Out of interest, when would you use the cool pellet balancer as opposed to the all in once balancer?

 

[Fuzznugget]

I've recently put my 16.1 TB on the cool condition cubes, after he lost some weight when we had a cold spell, and can't say enough good things about it! Put the weight right back, hasn't sent him loopy, and isn't super expensive. Would very much recommend it.

 

[Dusty85]

I've recently put my 16.1 TB on the cool condition cubes, after he lost some weight when we had a cold spell, and can't say enough good things about it! Put the weight right back, hasn't sent him loopy, and isn't super expensive. Would very much recommend it.

How much of the condition cubes do you feed him?

 

[Fuzznugget]

How much of the condition cubes do you feed him?

I give him the amount it says on the bag, I think it's 1.6kgs per day, can't remember off hand. He has it split between feeds, and gets that along with mollichaff conditioning & Alfa-a oil, a scoop of each per feed.

 

[Dusty85]

Would you ever consider feeding the cubes and the balancer? I like the idea of adding condition but also want to make sure he's got the added benefit of the vits/minerals in the balancer, but im thinking that might be a bit excessive! (and get expensive!)

 

[Fuzznugget]

If I was only feeding him the cubes, then yes. Being that he also has the two types of chaff, and gets the 'garlic & more' supplement, I don't feel it is necessary to add the balancer.

 

[italylyns]

I recently bought a fairly poor looking TB and after speaking to TS advice line he is now on cool condition,comprehensive feed balancer with the topchop lite
I was worried about blowing his brain but i was assured the contents of both these feeds are to ensure he has a high vitamin etc intake and i have to say he is looking so much better in just 2 weeks!
There products are a bit more expensive but i always see results with their feeds!

 

[Dusty85]

Thanks.

I think Ive made my mind up and will put him on the cool balancer, I will talk to the TS advice line/local feed merchant and see if they think its worth while putting him on the cubes too.

He also gets equine america glucosamine, alfa-a chop and carrots in x2 daily feeds.

xx

 

[Topaz Tiger]

Hi I've got a 16'2 7/8 tb event horse, bought him in November and he went a little light with the change of home etc, plus he's a little weak behind, so he needs to build muscle and put on condition.
Started him off on just the Top Spec Balancer, then added in the cool and condition cubes. He's a sensitive sharp horse, but I've seen no change in character or rideability.
His feed regime is 2 mugs of top spec balancer, 3 scoops of CC cubes, 2 scoops of unmollased sugar beet, joint supplement, magnesium and 10-12 carrots split between 2 feeds, plus adlib haylage and daily turnout.
He's in work 6 days a week, about an hour a day, combination of hacking, flatwork and jumping.
Recently he had 2 weeks off with the snow plus me being away on that feeding regime. I came back, got on him and took him for a hack, he was a little jolly, but did nothing wrong, so overall I am very impressed with it.
I've been feeding Top Spec for about 5 years and always really liked their products.
I have started to go down the route of only feeding straights with my other event horse, but am in 2 minds whether to continue down that route having seen how much he likes the food (he's a fussy eater) and how well he's doing on it.

 

[Dusty85]

Topaz Tiger do you use the cool balancer or the normal 'comprehensive' one?

My TB can also be quite sharp (although not so in dressage lol) and i dont want to make him worse on the XC course!

 

[Topaz Tiger]

Topaz Tiger do you use the cool balancer or the normal 'comprehensive' one?

My TB can also be quite sharp (although not so in dressage lol) and i dont want to make him worse on the XC course!

Hi, no I use the comprehensive one....

 

[Rattyv]

Hi, my horse can be sharp to the point of explosive and I was feeding the comprehensive balancer and cool and condition cubes. I changed him to the cool balancer and I have noticed a big difference in his behaviour. I think its a case of trial and error. I also need to be careful how much cool and condition cube I give. If he's not being ridden 5/6 days a week I reduce how much I give or he becomes very lively again.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I used the cubes to help out condition back on my mare on Boxrest. I put them in her ball and in her feed so she had access throughout the day along with adlib haylege. I also put alfalfa cubes in the ball as well as good fibre and protein source

I dont like the TS balancers prices, very expensive when there are other balancer and powders that do the same job and a lesser price. I was a fan of spillers balancers when I fed them

 

[JustKickOn]

Can't offer a comparison between the two, but if you go on the topspec site, sign up as a member, and they have an offer on for a money off voucher for the cool balancer