Smartpak v Platinum Performance

[joiedevie99]

I got talking with my vet last week while we were waiting for a horse to be sedated, and she suggested that PP did the best research on their supps. Every time I compare, it seems like their formulas have less of each ingredient than the comparable smartpak product, at higher prices. I’m open to the idea that the numbers don’t give you the whole picture, if PP is using things that are more easily absorbed, etc. Here are what I’m thinking about trying. Anyone have any experience switching, or any thoughts on these actual choices? Many thanks!

Smartpak:
Succeed, Vitamin E (1500iu) and Omega 3 Ultra, Magnesium (5,000 mg) = $148

PP:
Wellness + GI, Vitamin E (1620 iu), and Magnesium (1750 mg) = $176 (more if I up magnesium)

[JB]

Vets think PP is superior because of the vet connection. I don’t actually know that PP does research on the products themselves, other than the more “fix this” products like Biosponge

PP Wellness does have a lot of things in it, but at fairly insignificant levels. The GI part of that one likely does have benefit, as the amounts of the goodies are fairly significant. But you can get a similar product for substantially less, and do the vm/forage balance/ration balancer part of the diet for a lot cheaper

What problem do you want to fix or prevent?

[barnesthenoble]

PP has a great marketing scheme, and focuses particularly hard on vets. They don’t conduct meaningful research on their general supplements. Like JB said, I believe there are some papers on Biosponge but that’s really a completely different class of product. In most cases, those claiming that the numbers don’t give you the whole picture have bought into a marketing claim, not the truth.

IMO, PP is expensive, well-marketed, lightly-adulterated flaxseed.

[joiedevie99]

@JB

What problem do you want to fix or prevent?

Thanks! I’m looking to add Vitamin E, Magnesium, and hind gut support to what I otherwise believe to be a solid diet that covers normal bases. I have no complaints with my current Smartpak order (listed above). The only “extra” it includes is the Omega 3, which can’t be bad since he gets 3-4 hours of turnout/day.

Was mostly wondering if there is some reason to believe PP Vitamin E or Magnesium is better than SP Vitamin E or Magnesium, or whether the GI component of PP is better than Succeed. Not particularly interested in the Wellness part of PP, but I’d take it if the things I care about are better there. And it sounds like at least as to the Vit E and Mag, there is no reason to think PP is better.

[JB]

@barnesthenoble

lightly-adulterated

Totally stealing that phrase!

@joiedevie99

I’m looking to add Vitamin E, Magnesium, and hind gut support to what I otherwise believe to be a solid diet that covers normal bases. I have no complaints with my current Smartpak order (listed above). The only “extra” it includes is the Omega 3, which can’t be bad since he gets 3-4 hours of turnout/day.

while you can probably do the E and Mg cheaper than anything at SP, the convenience of the combination could be worth it, so no problem there

@joiedevie99

Was mostly wondering if there is some reason to believe PP Vitamin E or Magnesium is better than SP Vitamin E or Magnesium,

Natural E is natural E. The only time there’s a “better” in that is water-soluble E vs regular natural E, but that’s not necessary for most horses.

No reason to think any Mg is better than the other, until a given horse proves otherwise which IME isn’t that often. MagOx is cheap, effective, and typically works well

[outerbanks77]

@barnesthenoble

IMO, PP is expensive, well-marketed, lightly-adulterated flaxseed

That is my conclusion.

I haven’t found a one stop shop, so I use Santa Cruz E powder, the Mag 5,000 from SP, then GutX and Outlast for GI support. I also fees hempseed oil in lieu of flax.

[RhythmNCruise]

Every time I go to PP’s website to see if maybe I’m missing something special, I read the ingredients on all of their stuff and realize…nope. I don’t see the point in paying more money to get less stuff.

My lightly-adulterated flaxseed of choice is Omega Horseshine. Been feeding it for decades.

[atr]

Note whether your vet is wearing a nice, cosy, PP branded jacket as he makes his reccomendations. And how large the display of product is in his reception area.

I love my vet, but this is an area where our views diverge. I think the stuff is harmless, unless your horse is sensitive to flaxseed. But that’s about it.

[TWH_Girl]

@RhythmNCruise

Every time I go to PP’s website to see if maybe I’m missing something special, I read the ingredients on all of their stuff and realize…nope. I don’t see the point in paying more money

Yep, same. I’ve looked into switching but can’t justify the change.
I use Smartpak because it’s convenient but sometimes I still can’t find what I’m looking for- like Natural Vitamin E at 4,000-5,000 that’s pelleted and affordable- so I add it separately. I also like the variety of products besides their own brand.

[Mardi1]

@joiedevie99

whether the GI component of PP is better than Succeed.

I’ve used Succeed for a few years on my two mares, as recommended by my vet. First we did the Succeed fecal blood test , and found that each horse needed it, one more than the other. Subsequent testing found improvement in both horses and that it was working well.

I no longer have the mare that needed Succeed the most, so I’ve switched to PP Platinum Balance (pre and probiotics + L-glutamine) for the other mare. The PP product costs less than the Succeed per serving.

Both Succeed and the Platinum Balance have L-glutamine and probiotics.

[Nikki]

PP use to be good back in the day. I was lucky in Wellington 20ish years ago and the vender gave me all unsold products because she couldn’t take them on the plane. It was like $1500 worth of supplements.

I just use Sunny Flax mix. I put in 50lbs of black oil sunflower seed and 50lb of flax seed into a clean garbage can and feed 1 cup a day. Bonus is that I get pretty sunflowers and flax in my pastures.

[cnd8]

It’s like how small animal vets push Science Diet. They direct their marketing in parts to the vet community.

[GraceLikeRain]

Wouldn’t that mean they aren’t getting digested? My feed has both and I’ve never had a single sunflower or flax plant pop up in the past three years? I soak my feed so maybe that’s the difference?

[joiedevie99]

Just saw this got bumped. To update the original post, horse is still on the same Smartpak listed above, and is happy and healthy. I never switched to the PP version. Succeed is expensive, but we had no recurrence of ulcers shipping to or from FL, and no watery poop when the grass popped in the northeast.

[Nikki]

Occasionally, the stray sunflower or flaxseed doesn’t get digested. I do soak my feed with the sunny flax. One year I was feeding my horse water melon as a treat, and then a fall. A little watermelon grew and the manure pile.lol

[arabiansrock]

HorseTech is a 3 rd alternative. They have an extensive line of products which are mostly flax based with the active ingredients added. They are based in Iowa, and are very easy to talk to. They will even compound a custom supplement to your request. They are similar to PP but cost less and have much more active ingredient in their products. I highly recommend them.