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Need Ration Balancer or Vit/Min Supplement

Horse Care
#1

I have a super easy keeper Oldenburg mare. She is on a forage only diet but I think she needs more v/m to help with hoof health and thus am back looking for a suitable v/m supplement or ration balancer. She had an episode of acute laminitis last year; even though it wasn’t caused by sugar, I try to limit her sugar intake. My vet has said no higher than 10% sugar in an RB.

Her current diet is:

  • 4 hours grazing each day with grazing muzzle (although I'm not sure how effective it is in slowing her down)
  • 20 lbs of timothy hay in a small hole hay net (just reduced from 22 as we upped her grazing time)
  • 4 cups of alfalfa cubes spread between 2 meals for protein
  • a gastric supplement that I am stopping once I run out because it's not working and will just be keeping her on 1-2 Nexium daily at all times (my vet agrees that's the best option for her and we will test her calcium/bone density regularly to make sure it's not a problem)
  • SmartDigest Ultra
  • MSM for its anti-inflammatory properties
  • Elevate Vit E when she doesn't get fresh grass
  • Nanric Biotin 100 - just started this this week at my farrier's recommendation as she has pulled two shoes in the last three shoeing cycles and torn off a ton of hoof wall each time
  • one cup of Outlast before any work
She is about 1200 lbs right now and really should be closer to 1100. My barn will not soak hay for her so that's not an option. And she is constantly starving as far as she is concerned.

Last year I tried HorseTech’s high point grass pellets but had to stop as they gave her diarrhea of the loose fecal water type (nicely formed manure but also some squirts). I then tried Pro Elite’s Topline Advantage at the recommendation of both my vet and an equine nutritionist, but she had the same problem of loose fecal water. In fact, it’s not uncommon for her to have that even now on occasion, but it’s much much less often. I emailed with Triple Crown to ask about their options but they acknowledged that their RB’s also fairly commonly cause diarrhea so I haven’t tried that. I used to use Nutrena’s RB, but she decided she hated it and won’t eat it any longer.

I have a sample of the High Point grass granulated form (which HorseTech very nicely sent me when I called about the problems I was having with the pellets - they also refunded me for the pellets - WONDERFUL customer service!), but I haven’t tried them yet. I have perused SmartPak’s v/m offerings and I’m wondering if Barn Bag might be a good option for her. It seems like it has a nice v/m offering plus some protein, so I could scale back the amount of alfalfa cubes that she gets.

But I am open to anything that would work for her and not cause diarrhea. My barn is fairly open to trying anything that I buy myself so that’s not an issue. And she’s not in a ton of work right now (various reasons) but I am hoping to increase that in the very short-term.

#2

My mare does well on Purina Enrich Plus RB. She is a metabolic mess waiting to happen if I don’t muzzle and monitor her as well and she has been doing great on it for well over a year. She gets 2 cups split into 2 feedings. Her coat, feet and health are doing great.

#3

Also following because I’m looking to make a change for my easy keeper PRE gelding. He’s been on a tiny amount of Sentinel, which makes no sense to me. Now that he’s home with me, I’m looking for other options for him. And he sounds very similar to Pico’s mare, including the manure issue and thoughts of starvation (eyeroll).

#4

I would keep her on Vit E full time, assume she’s getting none from the limited grass. Of course she is, but for this purpose, just assume she’s not.

Since you’re having to keep her hay down, I would go with with something like Vermont Blend as a start. I wouldn’t add the calories and soy of a balancer to what appears to be a really easy keeper.

You COULD try the new Triple Crown Gold Balancer, no soy.

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#5

My pony who lives on hay and a small amount of food is supplemented with MVP Mega-Cell. He also gets salt and Vitamin E.

#6

Both my air fern ponies are on hay in small hole nets and Essential-K ration balancer. Have been happy with that combo for quite awhile.

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#7

My chunky mare is on a very similar diet as yours and does great on California Trace. It’s improved her hoof health two-fold. CA Trace caters to balancing west coast hays, so it might be worth comparing JB’s suggestion of Vermont Blend and the Cal Trace. Assuming the numbers work out, you could likely drop the Vit E and biotin.

#8

I swear by Triple Crown 30% (1,266kcal/lb) or Triple Crown Gold Balancer (1,300kcal/lb) which does have added ingredients for gastric health. In my research both of these have been the most complete balancers available in my area. The palletability of the 30% has proven to be an issue for some horses but my 3 vacuum it up like it’s nothing. At 1lb of day it really isn’t a lot of feed but it is a good start for RBs. I have not had diarrhea issues with any of my 3 but did notice a slight loose stool period when transitioning my small pony over to it. My small was lamanitic when I brought him home and has done wonderful on the TC balancers, but I would proceed with caution (as with all feeds). The Gold is a higher NSC but has the benefit of having no soy.

I have used CalTrace Plus with success, it just became cost prohibitive when I compared it to the TC options. My favorite thing about CalTrace is that it is highly foot focused and does not contain iron. If you add anything that has iron I would also add a Copper and Zinc supplement. Adding that has been a godsend to my herds hoof health.

I have looked at Barn Bag and liked what I’ve seen, nutrition wise, but for me it was cost prohibitive. I highly recommend using FeedXL to run a nutrition analysis on your feed regiment. That has been a huge help with getting my horses nutrition needs met and getting my large pony to shed the excess weight I allowed her to gain.

#9

I use Uckele Equi VM. No added iron. It’s not costly either, and you could easily sprinkle it on her cubes.

ETA: For hoof health I use Nu Hoof Accelerator.

#10

Tribute’s Essential K is a good ration balancer if you can get it.

#11

“Good” really all comes down to what a balancer contains relative to the forage. Around here, with high iron and low copper and zinc, TC is a better option, as are several others, as Tribute in general has a lower nutrient profile. That might be great for the area in which it is milled, but it’s less able to help balance the fe/cu/zn issue a lot of the US has.

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#12

Grostrong vitamin/mineral supplement is a good one. You top dress your soaked alfalfa pellets and add some salt and you are all set. Your protein requirements should be met with the alfalfa, and the supplement should cover Copper, Zinc, and your other vitamins and minerals.

#13

I use Purina Enrich Plus ration balancer. I have 2 very easy keeper geldings, and their diet consists of grazing with a muzzle during the day, blue stem hay at night, 2 cups of Purina Enrich Plus divided into 2 feedings, and 1 scoop of Animed Remission. I mix a handful of oats and a few peanuts in with the ration balancer. They also have a red mineral block in their stalls and, in the summer, a white plain salt block. If you pick a good ration balancer you could probably eliminate some of the other supplements.

#14

I have one that needs very few calories other than forage. So, I have him on this as a supplement: https://www.smartpakequine.com/ps/sm…-pellets-11449

#15

I’ve used a variety of brands/types depending on region & convenience, and I’ve had similar good results with all, including Nutrena Empower Topline Balancer, Progressive, Buckeye, and even LifeData’s Barn Bag vitamin/mineral supplement.

#16

Thanks all! I think I’m going to try the Vermont Blend first. I know our hay comes from NH. I like the no added sugar/fillers aspect to it. Fingers crossed she will eat it and it won’t cause problems! I’ll try to remember and report back.

Note - they offer a trial size which is really nice.

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#17

I’m dealing with an acute laminitis right now with my Dutch Wb mare …she’s most likely IR (waiting on bloodwork) over weight…was given steroids to help alleviate severe allergies/sweet itch -that put her over the edge and into an acute bout of laminitis …

Per University of Pennsylvania New Bolten Center they suggested low sugar Timothy hay at the rate of 1-1.5% of her body weight /day…she’s roughly 1300-1350 lbs …said she needs to lose at least 200lbs …they said no alfalfa … but she can have a ration Balencer …we give her Buckeye Gro N Win (~12%)but I’m thinking of switching to Triple Crown 30% RB as it’s 9.3% NSC

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