By: Dr Rosie Alcorn BVSc PG Cert VPS Cert AVP MRCVS
As horse owners, we face a wide variety of feed options, each with its own strengths and purposes. One of the most common questions is: What’s the difference between a balancer and a comprehensive feed, and when should each be used?
This article explains the role of balancers and comprehensive feeds, their benefits, and how to choose the best option for your horse’s specific needs.
A balancer is a feed that provides the essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids your horse needs to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. Its primary purpose is to "balance" the nutritional gaps in forage or grass, without adding extra calories.
Low in calories
Fed in small amounts (often a handful per day)
Does not provide additional energy
Perfect for horses that don’t need extra calories
Cost-effective and easy to feed
Allows for customisation of the diet when paired with quality forage
Chunky monkeys or super cobs that gain weight easily. They don’t need extra energy but still require the right vitamins, minerals, and protein to support their work.
Well-conditioned young stock on grass.
The good-doer, lively competition horse.
A comprehensive feed provides a full range of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and additional calories. It is designed to meet both the nutritional and energy needs of horses, making it an excellent choice for those with higher demands.
Includes calories for energy, alongside vitamins and minerals
Comes in measured quantities, with feeding instructions provided by the manufacturer
Addresses both nutritional gaps and energy requirements
Ideal for horses needing more energy
Convenient and easy to use without additional supplementation
Supports performance, growth, and recovery
Performance horses, such as a novice-level event horse
Poor doers or hard keepers
Lactating mares with high nutritional demands
Your Horse’s Workload and Activity Level: Horses in light work typically thrive with a balancer. Horses in heavy work often need the extra energy provided by a comprehensive feed.
Your Horse’s Metabolic Health: Horses with insulin dysregulation, Cushing’s disease, or laminitis benefit from the low-calorie nutrition of a balancer. Hard keepers or healthy horses with no metabolic issues may need the extra calories in a comprehensive feed.
Forage Quality: If your horse has access to high-quality forage or pasture, a balancer is usually sufficient. When feeding low-quality or insufficient forage, a comprehensive feed can help fill the gaps.
80% of your horse’s diet should come from forage (hay, grass). Hard feed (balancers or comprehensive feeds) should make up no more than 20%, and often much less.
Always adhere to feeding instructions provided by feed manufacturers, especially with comprehensive feeds, to ensure your horse gets the correct balance of vitamins and minerals.
Choosing between a balancer and a comprehensive feed depends on your horse’s unique needs, including their workload, health, and forage quality. A chunky cob might thrive on a simple balancer paired with good pasture, while a high-performing event horse likely needs the energy from a comprehensive feed.
For the best results, consult your vet or an equine nutritionist to ensure your horse is getting exactly what they need to stay healthy and perform their best.
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