What is a ration balancer and where can you find one?

What is a Ration Balancer?

They are generally forage-based, no grain pellets that are low in NSC and therefore safe to feed to horses that might be at risk for colic, laminitis, ulcers and other chronci digestive upset problems. They are nutrient dense and generally higher in most nutrients than most conventional feeds. But, they are more than just a vit/min supplement. They offer things like amino acids and prebiotics that are helpful in the digestion/utilization of other nutrients. They also generally contain some caloric value...around 1300 cal/lb....nearly that of some sweet feeds...but, of course, much less is fed.

Ration balancers are also more geared to complement your hay/pasture. Conventional feeds are generally formulated to the old NRC guidelines that provide RDAs that are not meant to sustain health and function, but rather to sustain life....IOW enough nutrients are provided to keep the horse from developing nutritional deficiencies that would ultimately result in death. However, ration balancers are formulated to provide more optimal nutrition...even for working horses and most companies have two formulations that complement either grass hays or alfalfa based diets. You will also note that the biggest difference between these formulations is the amount of protein provided (generally 20-30% for grass and 10% for alfalfa)....these numbers are more in keeping with the new NRC guidelines that recognize that we are not supplying enough protein in our horses diets. This combination of increased protein levels and complementary amino acids that are necessary to utilize the protein shows up on the outside in improved hoof, coat and skin quality....likewise there is improved interior health as well.

While being the ideal feed for easy and normal keepers, ration balancers also are easily complement with rice bran, BOSS, alfalfa pellets/cubs and beet pulp to provide extra calories for harder keepers. The improtant factor is that while you can control caloric intake, you are not altering nutritient intake like you would with conventional feeds. For example if you have an easy keeper and a hard keeper...convention feeding programs would most likely mean that you would limit feed intake for the easy keeper and increase it for the hard keeper...but at the same time, you are also altering nutrient intake in the same manner. Many times, it is this alteration in nutrient uptake that causes a horse to be an abnormal keeper...especially when it comes to hard keepers.

Ration balancers are also economical. Depending on what you feed as your conventional program, it can cost up to 2x as much per bag. However, you will probably feed at least 1/2 to much less than you have been feeding...thus making it no more...and most likely less to feed. Additionally, from my experience with ration balancers....you will also find that most or all of your supplements will no longer be necessary because the ration balancer contains many of the same things or more than what those supplements do....generally, there are no "gaps" to fill like there is with some conventional feeds.


Who make them and where do I find them at??

Buckeye Gro N WIn or ALf Gro N Win
http://www.buckeyenutrition.com/dealers.html

Tribute feeds Essential K
http://www.kalmbachfeeds.com/Dealers.php?zipcode=16143

Front Runner 30% or 10% Supplment
http://www.frontrunnerhorse.com/

McCauley's M30
http://www.mccauleybros.com/contact/dealer_locator.cfm

Kent Horsego12 or Horsego32
http://www.kentequine.com/Results.aspx

LMF SuperSupplement
http://lmffeeds.com/cart/index.php?m...products_id=10

Pennifield All Phase
http://www.pennfield.com/equinefeed/phaseFeeds.cfm

Progressive Pro Advantage grass or alfalfa formula
http://prognutrition.com/DealerLocator.htm

Purina Enrich32 or Enrich12
http://horse.purinamills.com/dealerlocator/

Seminal Equalizer
http://www.seminolefeed.com/ProductS.../Equalizer.mht

Triple Crown TC12% or TC30% supplement
http://www.triplecrownfeed.com/distributors.php


Brookes Feed All Phase
http://www.brooksfeeds.com/product04a.html

ADM Allaince Nutrition Gro STrong
http://www.admani.com/AllianceEquine...lsVitamins.htm

TDI-30
http://www.tdihorsefeeds.com/product.asp#TDI-30

Kalmbach Feeds http://www.kalmbachfeeds.com/Dealers.php
32% Horse Supplement Pels
34% Horse Supplement Pels
35% Horse Supplement Pels

Peggy thank you for posting such great info.
And so it brings me to a question for ya.
My 16 OTT is on the Progressive grass formula. I love it in the summer it keeps him in great working condition, but now that winter is almost here (Minnesota) and he is on pasture board getting 4 flakes of Grass and Alfalpha mix(idk how 2 spell at the moment lol) hay morning and night. With free choice grass hay . He has started to loose some weight now because of the cold so I put him on the Progressive Envision along with the grass formula. My problem is it costs me $30 every 25 days for the grass formula and the Envision is $40 every 50 days. The envision is to get more fat in his diet, but is there something more economical that I could use instead that doesn't have all the starches and sugars that most horse food has? I don't want anything that is going to make him more energetic than he already is. Lol I also looked through your list and the Kent Horsego 32 seems to be the only thing close to what my boy is getting that is close to me. I see it has Molasses and artificial flavors any problems with these ingredients that you know of?
With the economy being how it is I am trying to lower my costs without having to sell my boy or put him on something that is not going to take care of him nutritionally.
My zip is 55420 just incase you know of anything else that may be near me.
Thanks again for all your help!! And I hope you get some rest tonight after a hard day of riding and getting lost. I am so sorry to hear about that!!
Thanks Gen

I use the Horsego32 and have had better results with it then I did the Buckeye Gro N Win... there shouldn't be any problems I am pretty sure the Progressive has Molasses as well LOL would have to find my ingredient list on it LOL

You can look into Omagetin by Kent but I have heard of it making some horses a bit fizzy .. you can also look at just straight fortified rice bran or some beet pulp...I have not had any luck with the ENvision or the Ultimate Finish which are basically the same product

Alfalfa also has more calories then grass hay so you could increase the flakes of alfalfa or add some alfalfa pellets/cubes

Peggy thanks for your wealth of knowledge!
I looked at the ingredients on the progressive and it does not say it has Molassess but I don't know if they have it under another name. Lol
The Envision has done well for him in gaining weight, it is just so dang expensive!!! Lol
I was thinking beet pulp or bran just wasn't sure if those had sugars or starches? I don't want anything with corn due to him being an older Thoroughbred.
I think I may start weaning him off the Envision and putting him on the bran and see how expensive that ends up. If it still is hurting the budget I may then switch slowly to the Horsego 32.
Ugh .. he is my baby and I get so worried since he is 20 min. Away and I can only get out there 4-5 times a week and with winter coming( I think it's going to be a harsh one here too.)
With the Alfalfa hay I would give more but the barn owner has 6 boys together and she only wants to put out 3 bales in the morning and then 3 at night with grass hay being out all the time.
I tried tonight giving him some hey cubes soaked in water... lol it was so funny because when the cubes were gone he slurped up the water they had been soaking in!! I have never heard a horse slurp!! I will definitely be doing that more often for him!!lol
Sorry so long I just want you to know I appreciate you sharing everything you have learned.
Thanks Gen~

The beet pulp or the rice bran is just as low as the Envision and SHOULD be cheaper on your checkbook.... just make sure if you get Rice Bran it is fortified so that the Ca/P ratio is correct

Ration Balancers in Canada
http://www.brooksfeeds.com/product04a.html

http://www.agribrands.ca/Screens/Equilizer.aspx

http://masterfeeds.com/documents/VTMBrochure_Web.pdf

http://www.ottercoop.com/horse.cfm

Some area can get Buckeye feeds

I have more just have to find what I did with the links LOL
Matrix (from Otter)
Step (from Proform)
FrontRunner (from something LOL)
TizWiz make a RB like food

I have one or two for Aust too

The otter co-op one is the one we feed our 30 yr old pony. She's border line I/R, has the cresty neck and is prone to founder. It's really improved her overall condition.

I would try Uckele's Equi Omega Complex. It's a high fat supplement with good Omega's, fiber, and digestive aids (to help ensure that he's properly digesting his feed). It's concentrated fat & calories without all the bad stuff .
Uckele Equine Nutrition

If he still needs more, I'd go with beet pulp or hay pellets.

Please don't add any other vitamin/mineral supplements to a ration balancer IT IS NOT SAFE... you can up the ration balancer to twolbs and add lots of different things for calories without worrying about sending them toxic on anything ..

The Equi Omega Complex is MADE to be added to feeds or supplements without altering the balance of the diet. It's a very simple additive. Call up Uckele and they can tell you if it's okay to feed with Progressive if you're unsure about it.