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HORSE Magazine
Does your horse need a feed balancer?
Friday 6 March 2009
Christine Smy
Horses fared perfectly well before the concept of feed balancers, but their welfare has undoubtedly been enhanced with the advent of such supplements.
If a horse looks well, works well and is fed recommended levels of concentrates (mix or cubes), there should be no requirement for a balancer.
However, good doers, such as cobs and natives, who are perfectly healthy working from roughage, can benefit from the vitamins and minerals supplied in a balancer.
Many people feed balancers alongside hard feed to improve their horse's general wellbeing, and in particular to keep the gut working effectively.
As extra nutrients are being supplied, you can then reduce the concentrates accordingly.
If you are already feeding your horse supplements, particularly a broad spectrum supplement, seek advice from a feed company before adding a balancer.
If you end up feeding too much of some vitamins and minerals, it could cause health problems for your horse, which would totally defeat the purpose.
This is an extract from a horsecare feature in Horse magazine. To read the article in full, buy the April issue, on sale from 5 March.
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