Which balancer?

Broodle

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I am considering changing to a different balancer, but am totally bamboozled by the massive choice out there. Help please!

Currently feeding top spec cool balancer pellets, grass chaff and Protexin gut balancer powder.

Horse is a 15hh connie in light work atm, and only on grass every other day, with soaked hay the rest of the time. He has a lovely shiny coat and is a good weight. He can be spooky, but is generally pretty laid back until something worries him.

I'd like to replace the top spec with another balancer, ideally a pelleted one and preferably one I can buy at a local ag store rather than online.

Help!
 

TGM

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Spiller's balancers are reasonably priced and readily available at most feed stores. Probably the Lite & Lean balancer or the Daily balancer would suit your horse.
 

ester

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equimins advanced complete comes pelleted and compared to others I know of requires fewer pellets per feed but obv depends on stockists.

Perhaps see what your locals have in then we can discuss which sounds best?
 

Broodle

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Thanks guys! I'll look up equimins.

Ag store carries all the big brands, plus Pure, thunderbrooks, Gain, castle feeds, emerald feeds... And probably some others I've missed.
 

Chianti

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I am considering changing to a different balancer, but am totally bamboozled by the massive choice out there. Help please!

Currently feeding top spec cool balancer pellets, grass chaff and Protexin gut balancer powder.

Horse is a 15hh connie in light work atm, and only on grass every other day, with soaked hay the rest of the time. He has a lovely shiny coat and is a good weight. He can be spooky, but is generally pretty laid back until something worries him.

I'd like to replace the top spec with another balancer, ideally a pelleted one and preferably one I can buy at a local ag store rather than online.

Help!

If your horse is doing OK on the balancer you're using why do you want to change it? I always go by the 'if it ain't broke dont fix it' approach!
 

milliepops

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I've been using Gain Opticare as it's pretty economical and more reliable stock at my local place than the Spillers ones, seems pretty good with no added iron. mine think it is tasty, which is good because I was planning on giving it to my broodmare but I don't feed her fieldmates so wanted something I could hand feed quickly!
 

Welshboy

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I like Castle Feeds Smart Balancer - a pellet. It uses nice ingredients and has a reasonable vitamin and mineral content. It’s on line only, but free delivery and it usually arrives in 24 hours (left in my doorstep)
 

Broodle

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Thank you all for your messages :)

If your horse is doing OK on the balancer you're using why do you want to change it? I always go by the 'if it ain't broke dont fix it' approach!

Fair point! I've seen so many posts about people's horses being nutty on topspec, and I suppose I have a slightly ridiculous notion that my horse might be transformed without it?!? At any rate, I guess a change can't do much harm so seems worth a go ?

I've been using Gain Opticare as it's pretty economical and more reliable stock at my local place than the Spillers ones, seems pretty good with no added iron. mine think it is tasty, which is good because I was planning on giving it to my broodmare but I don't feed her fieldmates so wanted something I could hand feed quickly!

Thanks! This one is stocked locally and id inexpensive, so could be a good option.

I like Castle Feeds Smart Balancer - a pellet. It uses nice ingredients and has a reasonable vitamin and mineral content. It’s on line only, but free delivery and it usually arrives in 24 hours (left in my doorstep)

I'll have a look at this one too, thanks!
 

Leo Walker

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I like Castle Feeds Smart Balancer - a pellet. It uses nice ingredients and has a reasonable vitamin and mineral content. It’s on line only, but free delivery and it usually arrives in 24 hours (left in my doorstep)

Its got a pretty poor vitamin and mineral content, even more so when you look and its per kg. On the plus side theres no added iron, but I'm not really sure what the point in feeding it is.
 

Welshboy

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Its got a pretty poor vitamin and mineral content, even more so when you look and its per kg. On the plus side theres no added iron, but I'm not really sure what the point in feeding it is.

Smart Balance has nice ingredients (no wheatfeed or GMO etc) it has a slightly better vitamin/mineral profile than for example, Spillers Lite & Lean. And the levels of key components aren’t that dissimilar other well rated base mix balancers.

Smart Balance per 500g

copper 125 mg
zinc 375 mg
selenium 1mg
Vit E 1,250 iu.
etc.

So, certainly not up their with some of the higher spec powder balancers. But, in my opinion not pointless either. My horse became fussy with the powder balancers and I became fed up with soaking various things to try and disguise them. Often full rations not being eaten. So this has been a good compromise for us and mixed with just a small scoop of TB chaff he clears his bucket ?
 
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