What are the Ingredients in 365 Complete Balancer?
For horse owners seeking to provide a complete and balanced diet, understanding the components of a feed balancer is crucial. The Equine Answers 365 Complete Balancer is a comprehensive supplement designed to provide essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that may be missing from a horse's diet of forage and hard feed. The key ingredients in this revolutionary, non-heating formula include a powerful combination of core nutrients and targeted supplements for optimal health.
The Core Nutritional Components
The foundation of 365 Complete is built on a base of essential macro- and micronutrients. The primary composition includes:
- Dicalcium Phosphate: A key source of calcium and phosphorus, which are vital for strong bone and skeletal health. Calcium balance is critical in the equine diet.
- Calcium Carbonate: Another source of calcium, ensuring the crucial calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is maintained, which is vital for bone density and function.
- Micronized Linseed and Linseed Oil: These provide a rich, bioavailable source of Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are known to improve skin and coat condition, reduce inflammation, and support joint health and mobility.
- Magnesium AAC (Amino Acid Chelate): This provides a highly absorbable form of magnesium, an important mineral for muscle function and a horse's nervous system. The chelated form ensures better uptake compared to standard magnesium oxide.
- Brewers Yeast: A natural source of B vitamins, which are important for metabolic functions and energy conversion within the horse's body.
Targeted Support Supplements
In addition to the core building blocks, 365 Complete includes advanced ingredients to address specific areas of a horse's health:
- MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane): A sulfur-containing compound known for its anti-inflammatory properties. It is included to aid joint health and mobility, which is especially beneficial for performance and veteran horses.
- Biotin: An essential vitamin for promoting healthy hoof structure and growth. It works in conjunction with minerals like zinc and copper to ensure strong, healthy hooves.
- Prebiotics (Inulin and Fructooligosaccharides): These non-digestible fibres feed beneficial bacteria in the gut, promoting a healthy digestive system and aiding in nutrient absorption.
- Probiotics (Saccharomyces Cerevisiae and others): The inclusion of live, beneficial microorganisms supports the healthy gut microflora, optimizes digestion, and helps a horse to extract the maximum nutritional value from its feed.
- Organically Bound Minerals (Chelated Minerals): These minerals are more bioavailable than their traditional rock-based counterparts. Chelation enhances the horse's ability to absorb and utilize these minerals, ensuring greater efficacy. The supplement also contains a range of other essential trace elements and vitamins.
Comparison Table: 365 Complete Balancer vs. a Standard Balancer
To illustrate the formulation differences, let's compare 365 Complete with a hypothetical standard balancer based on common formulations.
| Feature | 365 Complete Balancer (Equine Answers) | Standard Feed Balancer | 
|---|---|---|
| Mineral Bioavailability | Contains organically bound (chelated) minerals for superior absorption. | Typically uses rock-based minerals with lower bioavailability. | 
| Gut Support | Includes both prebiotics (FOS, Inulin) and true probiotics (e.g., Saccharomyces Cerevisiae) for maximum digestive health. | May only contain yeast cultures or a basic prebiotic, offering less comprehensive support. | 
| Joint Health | Contains added MSM to specifically support joint function. | May not include specific joint-supporting ingredients like MSM. | 
| Hoof Quality | Biotin-enriched to promote healthy hoof structure. | Standard biotin levels, may not be optimized for hoof health. | 
| Cost-Effectiveness | Highly concentrated, meaning a lower daily feeding rate and potentially lower cost per day. | Lower concentration often requires a higher daily feeding rate, which can increase the daily cost. | 
| Energy Content | Non-heating formula, suitable for horses requiring a low-starch diet. | Can vary; some balancers may contain higher sugar/starch content. | 
The Benefits of a High-Specification Balancer
Feeding a high-spec balancer like 365 Complete offers numerous benefits by ensuring the horse receives a consistent and highly absorbable supply of essential nutrients. This is especially important for horses whose diets are primarily forage-based or who do not receive the full recommended amount of a fortified hard feed. A balanced diet supports everything from immune function to coat condition, helping horses thrive even during stressful periods or seasonal changes.
The chelated minerals present in 365 Complete, as highlighted by Equine Answers, are a key differentiator. Standard, non-chelated minerals can compete for absorption sites in the gut, reducing their effectiveness. By providing minerals in a more readily available form, the horse is better able to utilize these vital nutrients for proper functioning of its body systems. This advanced formulation allows for a lower feeding volume while still delivering maximum nutritional impact.
Moreover, the gut health support from the combination of prebiotics and probiotics is critical for efficient digestion. A healthy gut microbiome helps prevent digestive upsets, improves nutrient extraction from forage, and boosts the immune system. This targeted approach to digestive health is what sets a premium balancer apart from a basic vitamin and mineral supplement.
Conclusion: A Complete Nutritional Solution
In summary, the ingredients in 365 Complete Balancer are carefully selected to provide comprehensive nutritional support beyond a basic diet. From the foundational minerals and fatty acids to the targeted additions like MSM, biotin, and high-spec chelated minerals, each component plays a role in supporting different aspects of a horse’s health. The inclusion of prebiotics and true probiotics further ensures optimal gut health and nutrient absorption, making it an excellent choice for maintaining overall condition, performance, and well-being. For horse owners looking for a single, reliable supplement to fill the nutritional gaps in their horse's diet, the detailed formulation of 365 Complete provides a compelling option. You can explore more about this product and its benefits on the Equine Answers website.