Impy
Well-Known Member
Does anyone give their horse a feed balancer? If so which one do you use and why? Thanks
Which feed balancer?
- Thread starter Impy
- Start date
brucea
Well-Known Member
Wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.
They're all chock full of cheap and nasty grain and grain derivatives which aren't very good for your horse - and if you were feeding a balanced good diet why would you need a "feed balancer" in the first place.
Use seaweed and brewer's yeast - far better for your horse and much better on your wallet.
Don't get taken in by the marketting - they need you to buy that product much more than your horse needs it.
They're all chock full of cheap and nasty grain and grain derivatives which aren't very good for your horse - and if you were feeding a balanced good diet why would you need a "feed balancer" in the first place.
Use seaweed and brewer's yeast - far better for your horse and much better on your wallet.
Don't get taken in by the marketting - they need you to buy that product much more than your horse needs it.
competitiondiva
Well-Known Member
I've just been looking into this myself, I believe the dodson and horrell ultimate balancer is the most cost effective except if you are looking at a lo-cal one in which case I think the baileys lo-cal is the most cost effective, I've not fed them myself yet, but was thinkin about moving onto one because my foals don't eat enough of the recommended levels of stud feeds to get enough vitamins and minerals from it! But after talking to a few companies I'm now looking at giving a stud diet at less than the recommended quantities and adding benevit or a similar vit and min supplement to top it up.... I think this actually works out as a less expensive alternative.
KatB
Well-Known Member
I use Topspec. My horses coat, feet and muscle tone would argue that actually the balancer works quite well
I also have been able to cut down her hard feed since feeding a balancer, as she is maintaining weight better. It also works out cheaper for me than pre-balancer.
HollyP
Well-Known Member
I use pink powder.
Puppy
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I use Topspec. My horses coat, feet and muscle tone would argue that actually the balancer works quite well
I also have been able to cut down her hard feed since feeding a balancer, as she is maintaining weight better. It also works out cheaper for me than pre-balancer.
[/ QUOTE ]
LOL! I agree. Topspec senior saves me an awful lots of money on hard feed and I'm thrilled with how my mare does on it
Lo cal is also awesome stuff
I use Topspec. My horses coat, feet and muscle tone would argue that actually the balancer works quite well
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LOL! I agree. Topspec senior saves me an awful lots of money on hard feed and I'm thrilled with how my mare does on it
Lo cal is also awesome stuff
Nailed
Well-Known Member
I use Blue chip pro.
It cost 40 quid a bag. I feed little anythign else with this, My horses coat is fab, shes carrying the right about of weigh. Shes healthy and happy, and not cornd up to the eyeballs.
It contains Magnesium which acts as a menstraul pain preventative and she is less nowty when shes in season..
Lou x
It cost 40 quid a bag. I feed little anythign else with this, My horses coat is fab, shes carrying the right about of weigh. Shes healthy and happy, and not cornd up to the eyeballs.
It contains Magnesium which acts as a menstraul pain preventative and she is less nowty when shes in season..
Lou x
Impy
Well-Known Member
Nailed - I have heard good things about Blue Chip Pro from other people. How long does your £40 bag last (and what size is your horse)? Thanks.
TGM
Well-Known Member
This is my daughter's pony:
Her muscle tone and coat look pretty good to me and I don't feed a balancer at all! In fact I only feed a few handful of High Fibre Cubes a day, so nowhere near the recommended amount! But she does get plenty of good quality haylage.
I'm not anti balancers at all (in fact I think they are very useful in certain circumstances) but they are in some circles regarded as some sort of 'wonder food' and there is the implication that your horse isn't going to look good unless they are fed one!
I did quite a long post on a thread on a similar theme:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=newlounge2&Number=4878849
which may be of use to the OP.
Her muscle tone and coat look pretty good to me and I don't feed a balancer at all! In fact I only feed a few handful of High Fibre Cubes a day, so nowhere near the recommended amount! But she does get plenty of good quality haylage.
I'm not anti balancers at all (in fact I think they are very useful in certain circumstances) but they are in some circles regarded as some sort of 'wonder food' and there is the implication that your horse isn't going to look good unless they are fed one!
I did quite a long post on a thread on a similar theme:
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=newlounge2&Number=4878849
which may be of use to the OP.
Nailed
Well-Known Member
My horse is 16.3hh so a big girlie.
A bag lasts me atleast 2 1/2 months. Coming into winter now, and shes staying on Horsehage cherry chaff and her blue chip and thats it!
Im not use how anyone can say its a load of rubbihs and no good fo your horse, it contains all of the vital vitamins and minerals required by your horse. I use pro because of the added magnesium. Ive also used TOPspec and that was also fantastic!
Lou x
A bag lasts me atleast 2 1/2 months. Coming into winter now, and shes staying on Horsehage cherry chaff and her blue chip and thats it!
Im not use how anyone can say its a load of rubbihs and no good fo your horse, it contains all of the vital vitamins and minerals required by your horse. I use pro because of the added magnesium. Ive also used TOPspec and that was also fantastic!
Lou x
woolyjumper
Well-Known Member
SMID - How would you suggest people with very good doers or laminitics etc (can't be on full quota hard feed) achieve a fully balanced diet though? Seaweed and brewers yeast (which are components of many feed balancers anyway) when fed in isolation would not be balanced. Vit and min supplements? - you'd still be missing out on key nutrients, protein, omega-3/6 etc. I think feed balancers are a great solution, my horse has bloomed since I started feeding blue chip with no extra hard feed. It's expensive even compared to other balancers, but I'm saving in other areas - it contains loads of stuff I might otherwise have to supplement seperately - quality protein, linseed/soya oil, hoof supplements (inc.biotin), primo vento, magnesium, proboitic, antioxidents....the list goes on. Much better than just a vit and min supplement, and definately better then just relying on forage!!
ETA - before I tried blue chip, I considered my horse to be in v good condition and had no problems. I gave it a trial, and it made a noticable improvement to his performance. which taught me that just because my horse doesn't look poor, it doesn't mean his level of nutrition is as good as it could be!
ETA - before I tried blue chip, I considered my horse to be in v good condition and had no problems. I gave it a trial, and it made a noticable improvement to his performance. which taught me that just because my horse doesn't look poor, it doesn't mean his level of nutrition is as good as it could be!
BBs
Well-Known Member
Have used the Ultimate Balancer in the past and have been extremely pleased with the results.
Now however, I use Fast Fibre as its cost effective for what I require for my two horses right now.
They have the correct vit/min without overloading them, its fed damp so I dont have to add SB in the winter, I can also just add a bit of mix if I want a bit more Omph.
Now however, I use Fast Fibre as its cost effective for what I require for my two horses right now.
They have the correct vit/min without overloading them, its fed damp so I dont have to add SB in the winter, I can also just add a bit of mix if I want a bit more Omph.
posie_honey
Well-Known Member
i did feed topspec last year - honey piled on the weight (approx 50kgs in 5 weeks!!) and went a bit loopy!
this year she's lived on grass and D&H equibites - i'm doing far more with her and she's looking far better than last year.
personally i think there's v few horses that actually need anything like this (seen balancers work miracles with under weight/mal nourished horses) but other than that they are just the marketing persons dream
this year she's lived on grass and D&H equibites - i'm doing far more with her and she's looking far better than last year.
personally i think there's v few horses that actually need anything like this (seen balancers work miracles with under weight/mal nourished horses) but other than that they are just the marketing persons dream
TGM
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
you'd still be missing out on key nutrients, protein, omega-3/6 etc ... it contains loads of stuff I might otherwise have to supplement seperately - quality protein, linseed/soya oil, hoof supplements (inc.biotin), primo vento, magnesium, proboitic, antioxidents....the list goes on. Much better than just a vit and min supplement, and definately better then just relying on forage!!
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh dear - I better tell the pony she is missing out on all this stuff - she doesn't seem to have noticed!
you'd still be missing out on key nutrients, protein, omega-3/6 etc ... it contains loads of stuff I might otherwise have to supplement seperately - quality protein, linseed/soya oil, hoof supplements (inc.biotin), primo vento, magnesium, proboitic, antioxidents....the list goes on. Much better than just a vit and min supplement, and definately better then just relying on forage!!
[/ QUOTE ]
Oh dear - I better tell the pony she is missing out on all this stuff - she doesn't seem to have noticed!
KatB
Well-Known Member
Thats really interesting re. the Pro and magnesium, thanks Nailed...
woolyjumper
Well-Known Member
Stinkywellies
Well-Known Member
I find it all rather confusing if i am honest. My mare is on Winergy Low Cal and a vitamin suppliment and looks fantastic!
I think there is so much on the market these days we start looking at them thinking that maybe our horses need something else!
I know i nearly bought a bag on the Baileys Outshine as i thought the horses looked so shiny and fantastic - i then went home and looked at my mare and realised she already looked great! (if i knew how to i would post a picture but i am rubbish at that kind of thing!)
I think they can have thier used if your horse is particularly poor or struggling to keep weight etc.
But my advice would be to settle on something that your horse looks well on and stick with that. I do vary the amount of feed my mare gets in relation to how much work she is doing and how she generally feels (she is only 4)
Anyway i will be interested to see what others think too. Dont think there is a particular right or wrong.....
I think there is so much on the market these days we start looking at them thinking that maybe our horses need something else!
I know i nearly bought a bag on the Baileys Outshine as i thought the horses looked so shiny and fantastic - i then went home and looked at my mare and realised she already looked great! (if i knew how to i would post a picture but i am rubbish at that kind of thing!)
I think they can have thier used if your horse is particularly poor or struggling to keep weight etc.
But my advice would be to settle on something that your horse looks well on and stick with that. I do vary the amount of feed my mare gets in relation to how much work she is doing and how she generally feels (she is only 4)
Anyway i will be interested to see what others think too. Dont think there is a particular right or wrong.....
teddyt
Well-Known Member
I think it depends on the horse. Some horses are unlucky in that they get minimal grass as they are kept on a livery yard with limited grazing. Added to this their hay/haylage may be restricted so in these instances i think a balancer may be appropriate.
They are probably one of the most heavily marketed feeds, hence they also cost more per bag. You are paying for the marketing! The more marketing, the more the cost. For many horses that have as lib forage/grass they are probably unneccessary, especially if the pasture contains a variety of grasses and hedges.
So for horses living as close to their 'wild' habitat as possible for a domesticated horse, they are unnecessary. But for many horses that are stabled, get minimal turnout on a small fenced paddock and have not the best gut function because of how they are kept then i think they are ok.
I personally wouldnt use them though. i used blue chip once, when it first came out and saw no difference in my horse at all. i think there are much more cost effective ways of feeding
They are probably one of the most heavily marketed feeds, hence they also cost more per bag. You are paying for the marketing! The more marketing, the more the cost. For many horses that have as lib forage/grass they are probably unneccessary, especially if the pasture contains a variety of grasses and hedges.
So for horses living as close to their 'wild' habitat as possible for a domesticated horse, they are unnecessary. But for many horses that are stabled, get minimal turnout on a small fenced paddock and have not the best gut function because of how they are kept then i think they are ok.
I personally wouldnt use them though. i used blue chip once, when it first came out and saw no difference in my horse at all. i think there are much more cost effective ways of feeding
monkeybum13
Well-Known Member
I swear by baileys lo cal for my fatty ponies and also top spec for the competition horses. I have really seen an improvement since feeding it. The fatties get the balancer on it's own, horses mixed in with feed.
wizzlewoo
Well-Known Member
If you have a pony that is prone to getting laminitis then a balancer is brilliant for ensuring that the pony is getting a good level of vit and mins for the work load that it is under taking as chances are the feed levels have been dropped. If it suffers from laminitis but needs more energy then specific balancers are great at providing this in the form of oils etc without having to greatly increase the volukme of feed fed. Another example is if you have an underweight horse then it is great for ensuring that the gut is working efficiently and the right levels of vits and mins are being absorbed. This is proven to help put weight on amd maintain it. I agree that there are plenty of false balancers out there and they are no better than a general vit sup but if it is fed for a spacific reason and they have the right ingredients for that purpose then they do work well. Personally i feed Omega Rice to help maintain the weight on my mare who due to insufficient grazing has not got access to quality grazing. She has ample hay available but this still limits the quality vitamins needed for the work that she does. Her coat and condition is fantastic and i only feed 1 mug in each feed. Sorry for long responce but to conclude i would say that not all horses need to be fed a balancer but when the right balancer is sourced for the right reason then they are not a waste of money at all.
marmalade76
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
This is my daughter's pony:
Her muscle tone and coat look pretty good to me and I don't feed a balancer at all! In fact I only feed a few handful of High Fibre Cubes a day, so nowhere near the recommended amount! But she does get plenty of good quality haylage.
[/ QUOTE ]
Most ponies will do well on this type of diet. When I had a TBxNF I fed him on basic cubes, oats, Alfa A and suger beet. He was super fit, bloodhounded, foxhunted, teamchased and show jumped. He always had a beautiful shiney coat (even though I've never been into too much grooming!) and excellent feet. I put this donw to him being half pony as most horses will not do like this, leading to things like poor hoof quality.
I have just put my horse on D&H Ultimate Balancer. I have chosen this one as it also contains a joint suppliment and I was considering feeding one of these anyway. The reason I have decided to try a balancer is because I can only feed my horse once a day (out 24/7), fine when he was doing next to nothing but now he has a sharer and is doing a lot more work and will drop weight and I cannot feed the amount of normal feed he needs per day in one meal. He only needs 1lb a day of balancer and some chaff & cubes to bulk it up and we will have to see how he gets on.
This is my daughter's pony:
Her muscle tone and coat look pretty good to me and I don't feed a balancer at all! In fact I only feed a few handful of High Fibre Cubes a day, so nowhere near the recommended amount! But she does get plenty of good quality haylage.
[/ QUOTE ]
Most ponies will do well on this type of diet. When I had a TBxNF I fed him on basic cubes, oats, Alfa A and suger beet. He was super fit, bloodhounded, foxhunted, teamchased and show jumped. He always had a beautiful shiney coat (even though I've never been into too much grooming!) and excellent feet. I put this donw to him being half pony as most horses will not do like this, leading to things like poor hoof quality.
I have just put my horse on D&H Ultimate Balancer. I have chosen this one as it also contains a joint suppliment and I was considering feeding one of these anyway. The reason I have decided to try a balancer is because I can only feed my horse once a day (out 24/7), fine when he was doing next to nothing but now he has a sharer and is doing a lot more work and will drop weight and I cannot feed the amount of normal feed he needs per day in one meal. He only needs 1lb a day of balancer and some chaff & cubes to bulk it up and we will have to see how he gets on.
TGM
Well-Known Member
Ah, yes I have heard that spiel from the feed companies about how pasture is lacking in so many micro-nutrients that we must go out and buy their expensive feeds to make sure our horses don't suffer! I'm afraid I am rather cynical about that one as my experiences seem to tell me otherwise. Perhaps I have been fortunate as in the many various places I have kept my horses over the years they have never been on grazing designed for cows, and there was always a variety of grass species and often additional variety in the hedges!
Funnily enough, the only person I know who has their horse on dairy pasture round here fed her horse a balancer with the result it started tying up. Removed the balancer and problem solved! Could, of course, be circumstantial ...
Funnily enough, the only person I know who has their horse on dairy pasture round here fed her horse a balancer with the result it started tying up. Removed the balancer and problem solved! Could, of course, be circumstantial ...
marmalade76
Well-Known Member
My little sec B lives on grass (old pasture, lots of trees & hedges), hay (in winter or when on restricted grazing), a bit of Hifi & veg peelings. She is over weight but never had lami. Don't think she has ever even looked at a suppliment!
Lotty
Well-Known Member
I use Blue Chip. I only give my 16.1hh horse half a beaker now and the bag last about 7-8months.
Maesfen
Extremely Old Nag!
[ QUOTE ]
I've just been looking into this myself, I believe the dodson and horrell ultimate balancer is the most cost effective except if you are looking at a lo-cal one in which case I think the baileys lo-cal is the most cost effective, I've not fed them myself yet, but was thinkin about moving onto one because my foals don't eat enough of the recommended levels of stud feeds to get enough vitamins and minerals from it! But after talking to a few companies I'm now looking at giving a stud diet at less than the recommended quantities and adding benevit or a similar vit and min supplement to top it up.... I think this actually works out as a less expensive alternative.
[/ QUOTE ]
What about trying D & H Suregrow for your foal in these circumstances? You only have to feed a little and it will get everything it needs without adding anything else as you would have to do if you only feed part rations of a stud feed.
Two years ago I would have done exactly what you were thinking of but since using Suregrow for the orphans, it would always be my first call before any other; I can't speak too highly of it at this sort of times.
I've just been looking into this myself, I believe the dodson and horrell ultimate balancer is the most cost effective except if you are looking at a lo-cal one in which case I think the baileys lo-cal is the most cost effective, I've not fed them myself yet, but was thinkin about moving onto one because my foals don't eat enough of the recommended levels of stud feeds to get enough vitamins and minerals from it! But after talking to a few companies I'm now looking at giving a stud diet at less than the recommended quantities and adding benevit or a similar vit and min supplement to top it up.... I think this actually works out as a less expensive alternative.
[/ QUOTE ]
What about trying D & H Suregrow for your foal in these circumstances? You only have to feed a little and it will get everything it needs without adding anything else as you would have to do if you only feed part rations of a stud feed.
Two years ago I would have done exactly what you were thinking of but since using Suregrow for the orphans, it would always be my first call before any other; I can't speak too highly of it at this sort of times.
Dirtymare
Well-Known Member
[/ QUOTE ]
"Topspec senior saves me an awful lots of money on hard feed and I'm thrilled with how my mare does on it
[/ QUOTE ]
Totally agree. I always thought balancers were a waste of money until I started my mare on Top Spec Senior (recommended to me by my horse's back lady). She has been on it for 2 months now and people have commented that she looks fantastic. Her coat is not a thick and wirey as it usually is at this time of year and she is clearly feeling well.
I would thoroughly recommend looking into a feed balancer.
SueHammond
Member
I use equminns ultimate forage balancer, beacause my lot are all on restricted grazing summer and soaked or mature hay in winter. Its economical and seems to work a treat.
Dirtymare
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Ah, yes I have heard that spiel from the feed companies about how pasture is lacking in so many micro-nutrients that we must go out and buy their expensive feeds to make sure our horses don't suffer! I'm afraid I am rather cynical about that one as my experiences seem to tell me otherwise. Perhaps I have been fortunate as in the many various places I have kept my horses over the years they have never been on grazing designed for cows, and there was always a variety of grass species and often additional variety in the hedges!
Funnily enough, the only person I know who has their horse on dairy pasture round here fed her horse a balancer with the result it started tying up. Removed the balancer and problem solved! Could, of course, be circumstantial ...
[/ QUOTE ]
Tying up is not just due to a carbohydrate overload. What was that horse's exercise regime??
I think that its horses for courses (if you pardon the pun). Some will do extremely well on balancers, others dont need them. But its a subject worth investigating. Supplements can be extremely costly.
Ah, yes I have heard that spiel from the feed companies about how pasture is lacking in so many micro-nutrients that we must go out and buy their expensive feeds to make sure our horses don't suffer! I'm afraid I am rather cynical about that one as my experiences seem to tell me otherwise. Perhaps I have been fortunate as in the many various places I have kept my horses over the years they have never been on grazing designed for cows, and there was always a variety of grass species and often additional variety in the hedges!
Funnily enough, the only person I know who has their horse on dairy pasture round here fed her horse a balancer with the result it started tying up. Removed the balancer and problem solved! Could, of course, be circumstantial ...
[/ QUOTE ]
Tying up is not just due to a carbohydrate overload. What was that horse's exercise regime??
I think that its horses for courses (if you pardon the pun). Some will do extremely well on balancers, others dont need them. But its a subject worth investigating. Supplements can be extremely costly.
Theresa_F
Well-Known Member
Most of the time I just use Feedmarks benevit to give my two young horses their vits and mins - we are on poor grazing. They also get linseed which is great stuff for coats, joints and digestion.
However, if Chancer needs to be got back into show condition, rather than stuff him full of food, I give him Equilbra 500 along with his simple systems diet.
I have preferred this to other balancers as it seems to put muscle on rather than fat and I have used this on both him, our young clydesdale and my TBs in the past with good results.
Many horses don't need a balance, or don't need it all year round, but I find that when I need to get more protein than I normally feed, then the Equilbra really is the best.
However, if Chancer needs to be got back into show condition, rather than stuff him full of food, I give him Equilbra 500 along with his simple systems diet.
I have preferred this to other balancers as it seems to put muscle on rather than fat and I have used this on both him, our young clydesdale and my TBs in the past with good results.
Many horses don't need a balance, or don't need it all year round, but I find that when I need to get more protein than I normally feed, then the Equilbra really is the best.
competitiondiva
Well-Known Member
Thank you MFH_9 for that, they are actually already on the suregrow but the recommended weights for my foal are about 1.2Kg per day as opposed to a balancer which is normally 500grm! my foal seems to struggle with big feeds and I can't get 1.2Kg per day of concentrate into him he tends to get distracted and bored! So I was going to keep with the suregrow or use spillers youngstock pellets feeding about .75Kg per day and add the benevit to top up the vit levels so I know he's having what he needs, until he is eating up more reliably!