I’m not sure what you’re not clear on LOL Here’s a little homework that will help you see the difference.
Look at the amount of the following, in a serving of Platinum Performance, and a serving of Triple Crown 30:
- lysine
- methionine
- calcium
- phosphorous
- copper
- zinc
- magnesium
Those are top limiting AAs, 2 macro minerals which are important when looking to make sure the horse is getting enough, and in balance, based on average hays (grass hay in this case), and some of the main trace minerals we get concerned about
Also, if you could recommend the good ones you referenced. Thanks.
Any balancer will do. Personally, I prefer Triple Crown because of a higher level of most nutrients, and a good gut support package, including the Billions of CFUs needed to really make a difference
You mention deficiency. Are you aware of any research in horses exploring optimal levels instead? Perhaps it is in the book?
Thanks.
Ahhh, optimal levels. This is where research falls short, and something the NRC talks about here and there with certain nutrients, stating research has shown what’s need to be “healthy” as in not sick, but not necessarily what’s needed for optimal health. For example, horses need at least 1IU/lb vitamin E. That’s to avoid an obvious deficiency, which could still take months or years to manifest, depending on other factors. Many researchers tend to think 2IU/lb is more of an optimal level, and we know that some of the harder working horses need more, in the 3-4UI/lb range.
I just heard about this today too, so don’t know anything about it, really, other than I heard it’s fairly pricey for what it appears to be. I definitely want to see what it is just to know
Surviving shouldn’t be the goal. Thriving should be the goal. But you’re right in that many horses tend to be over-fed, and even then, under-nourished in certain areas. Sometimes getting the stuff they’re most likely to be deficient in means also adding things they may not be, but also adding them in amounts that aren’t going to create a toxicity situation either
Besides protein, the ration balancer has basically copper, zinc, selenium, A and E, omegas, and a probiotic. I feel like that’s pretty sufficient for 99% of horses.
Nutrient-wise, yes, balancers to get most horses pretty close, that’s their goal, just like regular feeds. The difference is in calories, and I do think more than 1% of horses need more calories. But even then, it’s likely most horses would benefit from additional copper and zinc, in the US anyway, simply because so much soil tends to be high in iron. Think of alllll the sunscreen, UV fly sheets, etc, people spend money on, when there’s a good chance that most of most of their issues could be helped with adding copper and zinc 
