Feed balancers for horses have risen in popularity over the years – and for good reason. More than a vitamin and mineral supplement, when fed at the correct amount a balancer will provide your horse with all the nutrients he needs. The best feed balancers allow you to get all the essential nutrients into your horse, in a low-volume and low-energy way, which is particularly helpful if you’re watching your horse’s waistline.

Of course, nutritional requirements change with age and workload, so like other feed products not all feed balancers are created with the same goal in mind. Balancers can usually be divided into one of the following groups…

Although these products provide a wide range of nutrients, if your horse has a particular issue or demand on his lifestyle, a specific supplement – such as a joint supplement – may provide him a greater benefit. It’s also important to note that, in most cases, you need to feed an electrolyte in addition to the balancer if your horse requires one.

Most feed companies offer free nutritional advice, so if you’re unsure which is the best feed balancer or other product is right for your horse give them a call to discuss. You can also read through some advice they gave H&H on how to choose a feed balancer for your horse.

We’ve rounded up a selection of some of the best feed balancers for horses to help you find the right feed for your horse…

NB: Cost per day has been calculated using the maintenance measure for a 500kg horse in light work (where there was variation) and the RRP of the smallest available bag/tub. Some products require you to feed more in certain situations, which will increase the cost per daily measure, while buying a larger bag/tub will likely decrease it – these costs per day are a guide only.

Sizes: 20kg | RRP: £27 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £0.68 |

Aimed at horses at rest or in light work who require a calorie-considered diet, this pelleted balancer is ideal for good-doers on restricted grazing or soaked forage who would otherwise miss out on important nutrients. Low starch (6%) and sugar (5.5%) levels make it suitable for equines prone to laminitis, while it is also suitable for equine prone to gastric ulcers.

View now at amazon.co.uk or naylors.com

Sizes: 3kg | RRP: £25.90 | Daily feeding rate: 100g | Cost per day: £0.86 |

This very low starch and sugar balancer contains cinnamon, which helps to maintain blood sugar levels and improve glucose tolerance, and L-Carnitine, which can fast-track fatty acids into the muscle cells to be used. The probiotics restore the natural balance of the gut flora and help to maintain the natural wellbeing of the digestive system, allowing optimum utilisation of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Sizes: 15kg | RRP: £20.88 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £0.70 |

This low-calorie balancer is suitable for horses in need of a calorie-controlled diet and those prone to laminitis. It contains an effective level of biotin, zinc and methionine for hoof strength and growth, as well as natural antioxidants to support overall health, and protected yeast to support a healthy hindgut and nutrient uptake.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Sizes: 5kg, 10kg, 15kg, 25kg | RRP: £41.99 for 5kg | Daily feeding rate: 80g | Cost per day: £0.67 |

This complete supplement supplies 25 essential vitamins and minerals as well as omega-3 and -6 to add shine to your horse’s coat. It also provides vitamin E and selenium, which are important antioxidants that support healthy muscle function.

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Sizes: 3.3kg | RRP: £31.99 | Daily feeding rate: 110g | Cost per day: £1.07 |

Described as a highly palatable weight management supplement, this is designed to provide essential micronutrients to horses on a restricted diet. It includes metabolism-boosting marine extracts to provide essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and promotes wellbeing for good-doers while supporting healthy weight loss.

View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk 

Sizes: 20kg | RRP: £31 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £0.78 |

Whole cereal grain-free, low in sugar, starch, and calories, this balancer is suitable for good-doers. It is dense in vitamins, minerals, and quality protein sources, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, live yeast and micronutrients that are essential to support optimum hoof growth. It can be fed alone to balance forage only rations, fed alongside other compound feeds to top-up the nutrient specification or to balance rations that are fed below the recommended intake.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Sizes: 1.3kg | RRP: £24.99 | Daily feeding rate: 42g | Cost per day: £0.81 |

Part of the WellHorse range that is suitable for horses on restricted diets, this balancer contains every important nutrients and meets the NRC (National Research Council) and BASF (Animal Nutrition) recommendations for vitamins and microminerals. It also contains nutrients to support hoof growth, skin and coat condition, and protected live yeast to support a healthy digestive system.

View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Sizes: 20kg | RRP: £29.99 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £0.75 |

This balancer is high in amino acids, including extra lysine, methionine and threonine to help support lean muscle and topline – this is particularly important for horses fed low-energy or soaked hay. It also contains cinnamon, FOS and magnesium to support weight loss and a healthy metabolism and is suitable for those prone to laminitis.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Sizes: 15kg | RRP: £23.25 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £0.78 |

Designed for good-doers, this balancer is a ‘non-heating’, cereal-grain-free formula, with low levels of starch and sugar, and a considered level of protein to help maintain muscle function but avoid promoting body condition. It contains all the micronutrients required to balance the diet of horses in light to medium work in a small amount of exceptionally low-calorie feed. It is suitable for horses and ponies that have recovered from laminitis providing they are not obese.

View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Sizes: 20kg | RRP: £30 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £0.75 |

Aimed at good-doers in work, this low-calorie balancer provides all the nutrients you’d find in a competition mix or cube, but without the associated calories, making it ideal for horses who are stressy or excitable but require nutrients for health and performance. Low levels of starch and sugar also make it suitable for horses prone to gastric ulcers. It can be fed as the sole concentrate, alongside forage, or added to reduced quantities of other hard feeds, to ensure a fully balanced diet.

View now at amazon.co.uk or naylors.com

Sizes: 3kg | RRP: £25.90 | Daily feeding rate: 100g | Cost per day: £0.86 |

This balancer contains turmeric, black pepper, oils and glucosamine to promote healthy joint function and movement. It contains carefully formulated levels of essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients along side complete hoof, respiratory and digestive supplements. Available in a rodent and waterproof recyclable tub.

View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Sizes: 15kg | RRP: £19.99 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £0.67 |

This balancer is a concentrated supply of vitamins, performance minerals, amino acids, omega-3 and antioxidants, along with an advanced digestive aid. It is free from cereals, soya and molasses, low in starch and sugar, and contains non-GMO ingredients.

Sizes: 20kg | RRP: £26.99 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £0.67 |

Designed for the performance horse, this balancer contains elevated levels of nutrients, quality protein and antioxidants, as well as prebiotics and a natural gastric acid buffer. It is formulated to support post-exercise recovery, lean muscle mass and topline, gastric and immune function, and coat and hoof condition.

Sizes: 15kg | RRP: £31.61 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £1.05 |

This product is formulated to balance the diet of performance horses, those in work on fibre-only rations or those being fed less than recommended of a fortified feed. It’s a molasses-free blend that includes alfalfa and linseed with glucosamine for joint support, prebiotics to support digestive health, B vitamins for efficient energy metabolism and hoof condition, chelated minerals for efficient absorption and herbs for palatability.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Sizes: 20kg | RRP: £39.30 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £0.98|

This balancer is a low-calorie source of vitamins and minerals with additional digestive, hoof, recovery, immune, and protein support. It is ideal for topping-up natural vitamin levels in forage and is described as suitable for all horses.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Sizes: 5.1kg, 10.2kg | RRP: £51.99 for 5.1kg | Daily feeding rate: 85g | Cost per day: £0.87 |

This product includes a balanced supply of vitamins, minerals and body-conditioning ingredients that are rich in amino acids to aid topline. It contains a probiotic to support digestion and healthy hindgut function. Suitable for all horses needing condition and energy, without the fizz.

View now at ebay.co.uk

Sizes: 3kg, 6kg, 12kg | RRP: £30 for 3kg | Daily feeding rate: 50g | Cost per day: £0.50 |

Packed full of easy-to-absorb minerals that are necessary to support general bodily functions, maintaining peak condition and immune system stability, this balancer helps to support healthy joints, skin and hooves.

View now at globalherbs.co.uk, amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Sizes: 3.7kg, 9kg | RRP: £29.99 for 3.7kg | Daily feeding rate: 100g | Cost per day: £0.81 |

This concentrated formula is described as suitable for all – from the family pony to performance horse. It contains key ingredients to optimise gut function, combined with optimum nutritional supplement specification that balances a high-fibre, low-concentrate, or performance diet.

View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Sizes: 20kg | RRP: £33 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £0.83 |

This highly nutritious, low-intake balancer comes in the form of a mix. This allows it to provide a higher level of fibre and oil, which support stamina, and the inclusion of micronised maize helps to provide a higher energy level when compared to traditional pelleted balancers.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Sizes: 1.4kg | RRP: £34.99 | Daily feeding rate: 48g | Cost per day: £1.20 |

This balancer contains every important nutrient that your performance horse requires and meets the NRC (National Research Council) and BASF (Animal Nutrition) recommendations for vitamins, microminerals and macrominerals. It also supports joint health and the immune system, to keep your horse competing at its peak.

View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Sizes: 20kg | RRP: £39.99 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £1 |

This balancer provides digestive and immunity support in addition to everyday vitamins and minerals. It is rich in amino acids to support muscle development and topline, high in antioxidants and contains pre- and probiotics.

Sizes: 15kg | RRP: £29.95 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £1 |

Designed for good-doers in medium to hard work that do not need extra topline or muscle development, this balancer provides everything your horse needs in a small amount of non-heating low-calorie feed. It contains a multi-supplement including that is described as including the levels of micronutrients normally only found in high quality specialised supplements.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Sizes: 1.5kg, 2.4kg | RRP: £82.26 for 1.5kg | Daily feeding rate: 50g | Cost per day: £2.74 |

This balancer provides natural, tailored support to ageing horses who struggle to keep their condition, have a dull coat or are a little stiff. It contains an ideal mixture of minerals, vitamins, trace elements and amino acids to ensure optimum balance.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Sizes: 3kg | RRP: £48.90 | Daily feeding rate: 100g | Cost per day: £1.63 |

Formulated for horses over the age of 14, this balancer contains the correct levels of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in the diet, along with additional supplements to ease the ageing process. It includes CushinCombo, a complete joint supplement and is completely molasses free. Available in a rodent and waterproof recyclable tub.

View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Sizes: 15kg | RRP: £29.68 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £0.99 |

Designed for older horses who are actively competing or in light work, this balancer provides quality protein and all the vitamins and minerals a veteran requires in a low-volume, low-calorie way, which is ideal for horses that hold their weight well and don’t need a lot of compound feed.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Sizes: 15kg | RRP: £37.50 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £1.25 |

Providing comprehensive nutritional care for older horses, this balancer comes in the form of a cereal-free mash, which allows it to be ingested easily, even when dentition is poor. It is low in sugar and starch and contains omega-3 to support joint mobility and muscle suppleness.

View now at amazon.co.uk 

Sizes: 900g, 1.8kg, 3.6kg | RRP: £24.99 for 900g | Daily feeding rate: 30g | Cost per day: £0.83 |

Formulated to meet all the nutritional requirements of the older horse and give him all the support he needs to stay active and feeling young, this balancer supports the digestive system, which helps your horse maximise the value of his feed intake.

View now at viovet.co.uk or amazon.co.uk

Sizes: 1.6kg | RRP: £34.99 | Daily feeding rate: 54g | Cost per day: £1.18 |

Formulated to meet the demands of the older horse, this balancer contains every important nutrient your veteran requires and meets the NRC (National Research Council) and BASF (Animal Nutrition) recommendations for vitamins, microminerals and macrominerals. It also supports joint, hoof and gut health as well as the immune system.

View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

Sizes: 15kg | RRP: £33.79 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £1.13 |

This balancer supports digestion, comfort and movement in older horses. It is high in antioxidants to support immune health and has probiotics and prebiotics to support digestive health. It also contains high levels of glucosamine, MSM and omega-3 to support joint health.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Sizes: 15kg | RRP: £34.25 | Daily feeding rate: 500g | Cost per day: £1.14 |

Designed for elderly horses that are prone to weight gain, this balancer combines the benefits of a low-calorie feed balancer and a joint supplement in a cost-effective way. It’s formulated without cereal grains and provides only low levels of sugar and starch, which helps to maintain healthy hindgut function and avoid loose droppings.

View at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

NB: We have not calculated a cost per day for the stud balancers below as feeding rates vary greatly with stage of pregnancy for mares as well as age for youngstock.

Sizes: 3kg, 9kg, 18kg | RRP: £81.37 for 3kg |

This balancer is adapted to meet the needs of broodmares during gestation and lactation. It is enriched with calcium and vitamin D to support the foal’s healthy development and can also be given to nursing foals up to six months.

View now at amazon.co.uk

This balancer provides optimum nutrition for all breeding stock. It can be introduced from 3 months of age and, being low calorie, it is ideal for good-doers, supporting even growth rates without encouraging weight gain. Its quality protein and elevated levels of vitamins and minerals, including chelated minerals for improved bioavailability, support foetal development as well as helping ensure the mare is receiving the nutrients she needs to produce good quality milk.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Formulated for performance horses and growing young stock, this balancer supports consistent, steady growth rates for youngstock. It contains elevated levels of vitamins and minerals, and includes nucleotides for quality cell replication, pre- and probiotics, plus essential omega-3 and -6 oils.

View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

This nutrient-rich balancer, specifically formulated for broodmares, stallions, and youngstock, contains a long-lasting gastric acid buffer and prebiotics to support gastric and hindgut function. It has been formulated to help promote bone strength and correct limb development by providing quality protein, vitamins A, D and K, plus essential micronutrients such as elements calcium and phosphorus.

View now at amazon.co.uk

This balancer is a concentrated source of vitamins and minerals, packed with additional support supplements for stallions, mares, foals and youngstock. It is low in starch and includes key amino acids, hoof support and vitamin E, which helps support fertility and milk quality. It also contains MOS and FOS prebiotics and ActiSaf yeast – a probiotic which supports a healthy hindgut environment of fibre fermentation and nutrient uptake.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Sizes: 5kg, 10kg, 20kg | RRP: £40.99 for 5kg |

This balancer provides nutrients for mares in their last trimester, lactating mares and weaned youngstock up to 18 months old. It contains all of the essential nutrients required daily to optimise wellbeing and maintain normal growth in youngstock. The probiotic live yeast, Yea-Sacc, ensures efficient digestion and supports a healthy population of microbes in the gut. Added mint and peppermint powder soothe the digestive tract and stimulate appetite, while rosehips provide joint support and antioxidants that help to neutralise free radicals.

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Sizes: 1kg, 2.5kg, 5kg, 10kg | RRP: £32 for 1kg |

Designed to supplement the diets of breeding mares, stallions and foals, this balancer is high in essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements required for the development and regeneration of cells.

This scientifically formulated, pre-digested feed balancer supports and balances a pasture-based diet for equine stud animals. The highly palatable nuggets, which are large enough to be eaten off the floor, contain amino acids that support quality lean muscle and skeletal growth and development. DHA, a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid, is included to support semen motility, mare postpartum recovery, foal feeding behaviours and development.

View now at amazon.co.uk

This broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement will ensure the correct micro-nutrient, vitamin and mineral levels are provided for optimum development of the foal and nutritional support for the mare prior to foaling.

View now at viovet.co.uk and amazon.co.uk

This balancer, designed to support breeding and youngstock, is whole cereal free, low in starch and sugar, which makes it suitable for fast-growing foals and horses with more excitable temperaments. It can be fed alongside a forage only diet or alongside the existing ration to support nutrient intake. All types of breeding stock will benefit from the elevated inclusion of antioxidants, including vitamin E, which supports immune function, colostrum quality and can help to support optimal muscle function.

View now at amazon.co.uk

Designed for youngsters who hold their condition well and to complement a forage-based diet, this balancer is a low-calorie nutrient-rich growth formula for safe and even development. It’s suitable for foals, youngstock and pregnant or lactating mares.

View now at spillers-feeds.com, amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

TopSpec Stud Lite Feed Balancer provides most of the benefits of TopSpec Stud Feed Balancer, including a multi-supplement combined with a feed, but on a low-calorie, low-protein base, making it ideal for youngstock and broodmares that are good-doers.

View now at amazon.co.uk or viovet.co.uk

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