LMF ration balancer vs "homemade"

[Amchara]

Recently stopped by the feedstore to pick up the timothy pellets I use as a base in my horse's "grain" and noticed that the feedstore is now carrying LMF ration balancer.

Currently my horse is getting ~1lb timothy pellets, 2oz horseguard supplement, 2oz canola oil and 1/2 cup ground flax seed. She is ridden 2-3x a week, is 9yo, out 24/7 and fed timothy hay to meet her forage needs.

Would there be a benefit to switching to a ration balancer, or is my concoction up to speed for her needs?

[Dazednconfused]

If what you're feeding now is working (i.e., she's happy, healthy, and in good weight, shiny, has enough energy, etc) - then why fix what ain't broke? Unless there's some cost savings involved...

[JoZ]

I'm a do-it-yourselfer. Very similar mix to yours though my base is soaked alfalfa pellets and beet pulp, and I do add oats for flavor (and Ca/P ratio). I realize the latter makes it more like a grain and less like a ration balancer but with the tiny quantities the horses get, it really is just a vehicle for the vit/min supplement and the flax.

I've asked the same question here on COTH and no one ever presented evidence that would indicate that "storebought" has any advantages. And for me, it's much MUCH cheaper to do it myself.

Just re-read your title and realized you were talking about LMF -- do you mean the Super Supplement? I've read that in some states it has corn in it; read the ingredients carefully. I don't want corn for my horses -- they don't need it. I read up on it when I was seriously considering switching based on a recommendation from my farrier. Instead, I worked with vet and farrier to construct the homemade recipe, and coats and hooves look great!

[Appsolute]

I have had my filly on LMF super supplement for over a year now and she looks great.


At $25 for 50lbs, its a good deal as well. I feed one pound per day (recomended amount), which comes out to a total cost of $15 per month.


I like that it is a total feed and that I don't have to worry about buckets of supplements. But I also work and commute 12 hours a day. Some people have more time to fuss over feed ;)

[JB]

My "ration balancer" is a vit/min supplement, with some added minerals and amino acids, on top of however many extra calories the horse needs, which ranges from 1c a-pellets to 1lb + 1lb oats.

So yes, you can do that :)