When to use a balancer?

[Scribbles]

Lots of people on here seem to use pink powder/Top Spec balancer, but is it really necessary?

My 3yo is on Spillers slow energy Response cubes, plus happy hoof, and being the ever fretting woman I am, I was thinking of giving him some pink powder to help him 'grow' a bit, give him all his good bacteria and that.

However, I've heard that if your horse is on a mix then you shouldn't give balancers - if that's true, why feed balancers at all?

 

[BigRed]

They make the feed companies a lot of money.

If your horse looks well then keep feeding what you do.

Balancers were originally meant for people who fed straights - ie chaff and grains.

 

[CrazyMare]

I don't feed mix, only balancer.

Pre balancer

Post balancer

On balancer and in foal

Shes improved over her neck and back, and kept looking well, despite a year off work. On cerals/mixes she dropped off with a few days off work.

 

[TGM]

Balancers were originally formulated for feeding growing youngstock who need higher amounts of protein in their diet than adult horses, which can't always be obtained from a hay only diet when good grazing is not available. Feeding lots of concentrate to boost the overall protein levels of the diet can lead to problems like OCD in growing youngsters, so balancers were formulated to provide a concentrated source of protein and vit/mins to supplement a hay diet.

They have since been marketed to a wider audience and a lot of people find them useful to ensure their horses have all their nutrients without having to feed the recommended amount of a concentrate feed. If you are feeding the recommended amount of a mix or cube, then you would be doubling up by feeding the balancer as well.

A healthy horse should have plenty of good bacteria if they have plenty of fibre in their diet, although the levels of good bacteria can be depleted by stress, illness etc. If your horse has plenty of fibre in his diet, looks well and maintains condition easily, then he probably doesn't need a probiotic/prebiotic supplement!

You have to remember that 50 years ago there were no balancers or fancy feeds, and most horses did well without them! Yes, the new feeds can be useful for difficult cases, but you are not neglecting your horse if you don't feed them!

 

[sarahhelen1977]

I feed a balancer to my 3 year old and he is looking great on it - I only feed alfalfa and carrots with it.

 

[Lotty]

I feed Blue Chip Balancer with Dengie dood doer.

 

[pootler]

I fed top spec comp to my horse for the past three years and swore by it. I have been struggling with his weight in the summer so I decided to take him off it. He has always had a tendency to have really loose droppings in the spring and summer, his stomach would also bloat when the grass flushed.

Since taking him off the topspec his droppings have returned to normal and he hasn't bloated - he still looks really well.

The person who does his feet says there is less flare in his feet since he has come off the balancer. I am with TGM in that unless there is a specific reason to feed it's probably not worth it.