When it comes to choosing the correct feed for your horse or pony, it can be difficult. With so many options to choose from here is our simple guide to horse feed.
Mixes are generally made up of flaked cereals, grass nuts, oat feed nuts and vitamin and mineral pellets. Offering a varied diet for any requirement, mixes are available for growing, competition, veteran horses or those requiring a little extra conditioning. A note to remember when it comes to mixes – these should be avoided if your horse is excitable, prone to tying up, colic or laminitis as the starch levels in the mixes tend to be higher than with cubes.
Balancers are ideal if you are feeding below the recommended levels of vitamins and minerals in their concentrated feed. Balancers are concentrated pellets which are typically fed at approximately 500 grams and are ideal for horses and ponies don’t need the calories that the typical feeding rate of 2-3kg of traditional mixes or cubes provide. If you are feeding at less than the recommended amount of feed, this means your horse or pony may not be receiving all the vitamins and minerals they need as part of a healthy diet, feeding your horse or pony a balancer can correct this. You’ll also find many balancers provide additional support for digestion, immune system, joints and hoof care.
Nuts & Cubes tend to be small cylinder kibbles that come at every energy level from low calorie, high fibre versions such as SPILLERS High Fibre Cubes to high energy performance versions like SPILLERS Racehorse Cubes and everything in between!
With guaranteed nutrition in every mouthful, cubes allow even the fussiest of horses a balanced diet. Packed with added vitamins and minerals nuts and cubes prevent your horse from filtering out their favourite parts of the mix.
Cubes also tend to be higher in fibre and lower in cereal starch than their mix equivalent this is because they include more fibre based ingredients such as wheat-feed and oat-feed and less whole cereal grain. The lower starch level means that many cubes are classed as “non-heating” meaning they are less likely to contribute to excitable behaviour.
Chopped Fibre & Chaffs are often added as a double handful to cubes and mixes to slow eating time down. Many of these products are based on chopped straw and molasses although some contain additional components such as grass nuts and vitamins and minerals. There are also complete fibre based feeds available that are suitable for those prone to laminitis.
