Balancers – what you need to know!
Balancers can be a source of confusion at times. Sometimes people are put off as they hear balancers are for condition, make horses fizzy or that they’re super expensive but those statements aren’t exactly true. So, here’s a few facts to explain the myths and set the record straight.
When we talk about ‘conditioning’ it can be taken to mean gain weight but ultimately a horse (or any other athlete) in top condition will be fit, strong and healthy. A horse in perfect condition should have a body condition score of 5 (out of 9) but they also should have shiny coats, good skin, strong feet, bright eyes and a cheerful, alert disposition. Due to the small amounts fed per day, balancers don’t provide enough calories for weight gain, but the quality of nutrients packed into the pellets will help your horse thrive, stay healthier for longer, maintain topline and have that ‘glowing’ appearance. Ultimately a well-balanced diet provides the best kind of glow up to those looking a little sub-par.
Some owners suggest their horses are more energetic or excitable on a balancer. Technically the small amount of balancer fed per day supplies very little in the way of energy or sugar so it’s hard to understand how some respond to them in this way. For some horses who were malnourished (lacking the right level of nutrition) this could simply be due to the horse feeling ‘well’ once on a balanced diet. Humans who eat a poor-quality diet and transition to a more nutritious diet generally feel brighter and naturally have more mental and physical energy to enjoy each day. Always give your horse time to adapt to a new feed for a few weeks before making a snap decision it’s not working.
Balancers do generally cost more per bag, and this is due to the high level of nutrients packed into the recipe. However, a 15kg bag of balancer will last a 500kg horse 30 days, whereas a 20kg bag of Horse & Pony Cubes would last a 500kg horse less than 7 days when fed at the full recommended rate making the cost higher per day. It’s important to make sure you’re feeding the full recommended daily serving required to provide a balanced diet of whichever feed you choose. If you’re only feeding 500g or 1kg of (most) cubes, or other compound, then your horse won’t be getting the nutrients they need, and you would have to ‘top up’ the shortfall with a balancer or multi-vitamin powder.
How do I know which balancer is best for my horse?
Here at SPILLERS, we have a range of 6 balancers. All six are formulated to provide your horse with a balanced diet with minimal calories, sugar and starch. But how do you choose which one is most appropriate for your horse? Below, we’ll run through the differences, so you have the information you need to choose what’s right for your horse!
SPILLERS Daily Balancer is ideal for those at rest or in light work, who simply need the basic protein, vitamins and minerals required to balance a forage/ grass only diet. It includes 15mg of biotin per 500g serving which has been proven to support hoof health and has a delicious mint and rosemary aroma making it super palatable for picky eaters.
SPILLERS Original Balancer is an enhanced balancer, making it ideal for the harder working easy keepers who need a higher level of nutrition. Along with a comprehensive blend of vitamins and minerals to balance a forage-only diet, it includes probiotic live yeast and prebiotic MOS to support digestive health. Added vitamin C and a high level of vitamin E support the respiratory and immune systems. It contains quality protein (incl. lysine) to support muscle function and topline in working horses and that same proven rate of biotin too.
SPILLERS Lite & Lean Balancer is specifically formulated for horses and ponies who are on a weight loss diet. Those having soaked hay, strip grazed, wearing a muzzle or on grass free or very limited grazing are unlikely to be consuming as many nutrients as those with free access grazing and/ or ad lib forage. SPILLERS Lite & Lean Balancer is designed to meet the shortfall and so is high in the essential amino acid lysine and vitamin E. It also contains cinnamon and FOS to help support a healthy metabolism and again contains 15mg of biotin per 500g. Often this is the first choice for very good doers or those prone to laminitis.
SPILLERS Supple & Senior Balancer is not just for seniors, but also those horses and ponies who may benefit from added joint support too. It includes great levels of glucosamine, MSM and omega 3 to support joint health on top of protein, vitamins and minerals which balance a forage/grass only diet. It also contains pre and probiotics to support optimum digestive health, plus vitamin C and a high level of vitamin E to support respiratory and immune health and of course biotin!
SPILLERS Ulca Balancer is specifically formulated to contain added ingredients to support the stomach of horses and ponies prone to gastric ulcers who don’t require extra calories to maintain their weight. It includes a natural source of calcium (called Mearl) and FOS to help maintain a healthy pH in the stomach and apple pectin and lecithin to support the stomach lining. It also contains pre and probiotics to support general digestive health along with the quality protein, vitamins, minerals and biotin levels you would expect to find in any SPILLERS balancer.
All the above balancers have the same low level feeding rate of just 100g per day for every 100kgs of your horse’s bodyweight. That’s just 500g per day for a 500kg horse meaning 15kg bags last 30 days and 20kgs bags last 40 days for one horse. Equally a 300kg pony would need 300g per day and a 700kg horse 700g per day.
SPILLERS Gro N' Win is a slightly different proposition due to the extra demands placed on the mare during pregnancy or lactation and the needs of rapidly growing foals and yearlings. Again, ideal for those who maintain their weight well on hay and/ or grazing alone as it still has a far lower feeding rate (and in turn less calories) than a stud cube or mix. You do need to pay attention to the feeding rate as this changes depending on the stage of the pregnancy, during lactation and age of the foal. SPILLERS Gro N’ Win Balancer is rich in the essential amino acids lysine, methionine and threonine to support growth and muscle development. It also includes added vitamin C and E to support immune health of both the mare and foal (including through passive transfer) and probiotic live yeast to support digestive health.
Still unsure? Check out our interactive balancer finder to help you choose or contact SPILLERS friendly team of nutrition specialists are on hand to answer any queries you have and who can help make sure your horse is on the right diet for their individual needs. Call our Care-Line today on 01908 226622 or fill in the nutrition enquiry form here!