Question

I am afraid to feed my horse a ration balancer because he's already fat. How will this help?

Answer

A keystone benefit of a ration balancer is that the very low feeding rate (usually 1-2 lb or 0.45-0.9 kg per day) delivers few calories to the horse while providing concentrated protein, vitamins, and minerals to support nutrient requirements.

To maintain health, horses need these essential nutrients, even when dietary calories are restricted to effect weight loss. While forages are often sufficient in providing calories to meet energy needs in maintenance and light-working horses, especially easy keepers, forages are typically marginal to deficient in some amino acids and minerals. Further, hays lose vitamin activity in a fairly short time after the plants are cut, so supplemental nutrients are recommended.

Feeding an appropriate amount of ration balancer helps meet those nutrient shortages without adding excess calories and supports easy keepers in maintaining or losing weight without compromising protein, vitamin, or mineral status. Check with your local feed manufacturer to see if it carries a ration balancer, as many high-quality brands have one in their feed lineup. Otherwise, an excellent ration balancer is All-Phase. Depending on your individual horse’s dietary needs, a vitamin and mineral supplement formulated by a reputable manufacturer can fill any nutrient shortfalls in the forage.