In the life of a domesticated horse, sometimes it isn't possible for your horse to receive all the necessary nutrients from pasture and hay alone. We all want our horses to feel and look their best, and receive all the nutrients they need. This is when many horse owners turn to ration balancers to supplement their horse's needs.
Lately in many equine Facebook groups I am a part of, I have seen horse owners questioning whether or not their horse needs a ration balancer. That is what I am going to discuss today, and we will go over the basics of ration balancers along with some recommendations.
What is a ration balancer?
A ration balancer is a horse feed that is commonly in a pelleted form. A ration balancer allows us to provide all the necessary nutrients that our horse needs. In most cases, your horse is not receiving the nutrient requirements it needs from forage alone. This is why it is recommended to feed a ration balancer. A ration balancer is designed to provide your horse all the nutrient requirements while keeping a balanced diet.
Does my horse need a ration balancer?
Before adding anything new to your horse's diet, it is important to consider whether it is needed or not. If you horse has a forage-only diet that consists of pasture and/or hay, then a ration balancer may be a great option.
Certain nutrients are often deficient in your horse's hay and pasture, making a ration balancer a great option for supplementing your horse's nutrient requirements. For example, if your horse's diet has a lack of selenium, a ration balancer would supply that needed selenium. Consult with an equine nutritionist or vet before adding anything new to your horse's diet.
Ration Balancer Options
After deciding if your horse needs a ration balancer, you may start to research some different options. As with anything else, there are so many options to choose from. A few common ration balancers that horse owners feed are Tribute Equine Essential K, Triple Crown Balancer, and Enrich Plus by Purina.
If your horse is an easy keeper, it is important to look for a ration balancer with a low NSC (non-structural carbohydrates). These sugars and starches are usually present in horse feed ingredients, so finding a ration balancer with a low NSC is very important for your easy keeper. Ration balancers are not designed to add weight on your horse, but rather just provide necessary nutrients.
My horse, Glory is an easy keeper, so when looking for a ration balancer I was concerned of how it could affect her weight. Glory is thriving at a healthy weight with pasture/hay, a ration balancer, and a hoof and joint supplement. I have had great success with the Barn Bag ration balancer by Life Data Labs. This low calorie and low starch ration balancer has been a perfect solution for my easy keeper.
My horse eats grain, should I give a ration balancer?
This is a common question that I see many horse owners ask. First of all, you have to ask yourself "Why am I feeding my horse grain?" "Is grain necessary for my horse's diet?" Horse owners may feed their horse grain for weight gain or an energy source. It all depends on your horse's lifestyle. If your horse does not have a heavy workload, then most likely your horse does not need grain. Easy keepers especially do not need grain as it can lead to weight gain.
Ration balancers are designed to be fed to a horse that is on a forage-only diet. While a ration balancer can be added to the top of a horse's grain, it may not always be necessary. Adding a ration balancer to your horse's grain will provide more protein in the diet, which is not always necessary to easy keepers or horses that are not in work. Always consult your vet or an equine nutritionist when incorporating something new in your horse's diet.
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