[Midnight Felicity]

Ive heard a lot about it on here and i dont know what it is. Care to explain?
Thanks

[imacowgirl2]

A food that is usually forage based, and meant to be fed in amounts of 1-3 lbs/day typically....lots of nutrients in a small healthy package

I'll go find my thread for you about them or you can do a search yourself.

[Midnight Felicity]

Thanks imacowgirl.

[imacowgirl2]

Ration Balancers: Specific Products

The products listed in that thread are ration balancers Almost all national feed companies make at least one, though some are better than others.

[oldhorsehome]

So, if my horses are on turnout 24/7 I only need to feed a ration balancer? I don't need ANY kind of grain or grain mix? I currently feed Safe & Sound from Acco. I also have a special blend mixed for my hard to keep gelding and the 2 rescue horses I'm fattening up. It's chopped alfalfa, crimped oats, corn, salt, minerals, vitamins, molasses, and something else I can't remember right now. I would love to just feed one thing!

[Sue B]

Yes, in general, you can feed just a ration balancer...espeically with grass trunout. But, ration balancers, while nutrient dense, are not high in calories. I also combine mine with rice bran and beet pulp for horses that need weight. My OTTB mares that are harder keepers get a premixed feed that is made up of the ration balancer, beet pulp, soy hulls and other easily digested sources of fiber and rice bran and oil with 5% molasses (the same that my beet pulp has in it).

So, in short, it would be difficlut to feed just a ration balancer to harder to keep horses or for those needing weight gain. However, if they do well on grass....then it is a possibility.

[oldhorsehome]

Thank you, Sue B! I'm going to see what the feed store has. It will be nice not to have to drive 1 1/2 hours to the mill that mixes my special feed!!

[imacowgirl2]

Originally Posted by Sue B

Yes, in general, you can feed just a ration balancer...espeically with grass trunout. But, ration balancers, while nutrient dense, are not high in calories. I also combine mine with rice bran and beet pulp for horses that need weight. My OTTB mares that are harder keepers get a premixed feed that is made up of the ration balancer, beet pulp, soy hulls and other easily digested sources of fiber and rice bran and oil with 5% molasses (the same that my beet pulp has in it).

So, in short, it would be difficlut to feed just a ration balancer to harder to keep horses or for those needing weight gain. However, if they do well on grass....then it is a possibility.

I agree with Sue I feed BOSS in addition to my ration balancer to harder keepers...just because BOSS is easier to find around my area. Easy to feed, and so much healthier than grains that have a high glycemic index