How do I know if my horse is getting a balanced diet?

If you’re feeding the recommended amount of a fortified branded feed your horse should be getting a balanced diet. If you’re feeding less than the recommended amount or are feeding straight feeds such as ‘plain’ chaffs, grass nuts, sugar beet or cereals then you can use a balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement to ‘top up’ what’s missing. Unfortunately, grass and/ or forage only diets are unlikely to supply a balanced diet, and balancers are generally recommended in this case.

Where do I find out the energy sources of my horses feed?

You should be able to see the nutrients either on the bag or the product website to assess where the energy is coming from. Mixes tend to contain more cereals due to the nature of the muesli style recipe. Starch levels above 20% would be considered higher, those below 15% are lower. Higher fibre feeds would generally contain 18% or more and feeds higher in oil tend to include over 5%. Sugar in many horse feeds tends to be around 5% or less. Speak to a nutrition advisor if you’re unsure what you’re looking for, or your horse has clinical issues to get it right.

Will an iron supplement give my horse more energy?

Iron is generally oversupplied in the diet and can be harmful if consumed in excess. ‘Tonics’ are also unlikely to make a difference if the diet is already balanced, so make sure foundations are correct first. We recommend choosing feeds and supplements approved by BETA® NOPS® if you are competing under affiliated rules to reduce the risk of contamination from prohibited substances.

What type of energy supplement should I look for?

There are many supplements on the market, making a variety of claims, and if bold claims sound too good to be true, they probably are! That said for some lazy or sluggish horses they can make a real difference. Look for ingredients such as B vitamins which are involved in energy metabolism, as well as BCAAs (branched chain amino acids) which may also help performance and ginseng - a ‘feel good herb’ to help support mental capacity and focus. We always recommend choosing feeds and supplements approved by BETA® NOPS® if you are competing under affiliated rules to reduce the risk of contamination from prohibited substances.

Do balancers make horses spooky or fizzy?

No. In short, you feed such a small amount of them relative to the size of the horse that they don’t provide enough energy. It’s a bit like having a few haribos – they may be high in sugar, but a small handful is only a tiny part of your daily intake. For horses on an unbalanced diet which is lacking nutrients, balancers may help horses ‘feel brighter’ once they’re getting all the goodness they need.

We are here to help...

At SPILLERS, we are dedicated to providing expert support and guidance for your horse’s nutritional needs. Whether you have a question about our products, need advice on feeding, or would like to speak to one of our Nutrition Advisors, we're here to help.

The team are available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm on 01908 226626.

If you would like to request a call back, contact us via email, book a yard visit or have another enquiry, please use the links below.

FAQs

All Questions lethargy

How do I know if my horse is getting a balanced diet?

If you’re feeding the recommended amount of a fortified branded feed your horse should be getting a balanced diet. If you’re feeding less than the recommended amount or are feeding straight feeds such as ‘plain’ chaffs, grass nuts, sugar beet or cereals then you can use a balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement to ‘top up’ what’s missing. Unfortunately, grass and/ or forage only diets are unlikely to supply a balanced diet, and balancers are generally recommended in this case.
Where do I find out the energy sources of my horses feed?

You should be able to see the nutrients either on the bag or the product website to assess where the energy is coming from. Mixes tend to contain more cereals due to the nature of the muesli style recipe. Starch levels above 20% would be considered higher, those below 15% are lower. Higher fibre feeds would generally contain 18% or more and feeds higher in oil tend to include over 5%. Sugar in many horse feeds tends to be around 5% or less. Speak to a nutrition advisor if you’re unsure what you’re looking for, or your horse has clinical issues to get it right.
Will an iron supplement give my horse more energy?

Iron is generally oversupplied in the diet and can be harmful if consumed in excess. ‘Tonics’ are also unlikely to make a difference if the diet is already balanced, so make sure foundations are correct first. We recommend choosing feeds and supplements approved by BETA® NOPS® if you are competing under affiliated rules to reduce the risk of contamination from prohibited substances.
What type of energy supplement should I look for?

There are many supplements on the market, making a variety of claims, and if bold claims sound too good to be true, they probably are! That said for some lazy or sluggish horses they can make a real difference. Look for ingredients such as B vitamins which are involved in energy metabolism, as well as BCAAs (branched chain amino acids) which may also help performance and ginseng - a ‘feel good herb’ to help support mental capacity and focus. We always recommend choosing feeds and supplements approved by BETA® NOPS® if you are competing under affiliated rules to reduce the risk of contamination from prohibited substances.
Do balancers make horses spooky or fizzy?

No. In short, you feed such a small amount of them relative to the size of the horse that they don’t provide enough energy. It’s a bit like having a few haribos – they may be high in sugar, but a small handful is only a tiny part of your daily intake. For horses on an unbalanced diet which is lacking nutrients, balancers may help horses ‘feel brighter’ once they’re getting all the goodness they need.