Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
Welcome to my forum.
Here you will find more than 6 years of questions and my answers. It is searchable and offers a great deal of information.
Currently, I am discontinuing new questions. This may change in the future, but in the meantime, please know that It has been a true pleasure serving you.
Take a look at my Nutrition Library and Tips of the Month for a variety of answers on selected topics. Be sure to sign up for my monthly e-newsletter, Forage for Thought.
I also have a growing number of recordings on "Teleseminars on Nutrition Topics that Concern You" as well as the new, Spotlight on Equine Nutrition Series -- printed versions of favorite teleseminars.
And finally, look for my articles in a variety of local publications and online newsletters, as well as the Horse Journal, where I am the Contributing Nutrition Editor.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hi Lisa,
A ration balancer is simply a comprehensive source of vitamins and minerals, often combined with a fat source (such as flaxseed meal) or a low starch carrier such as beet pulp or alfalfa meal, to provide in combination with a forage diet. It is designed to fill in the nutritional gaps that naturally occur with hay, since fresh grass loses many valuable nutrients when it is cut, dried and stored as hay.
I like Glanzen Complete, which is flaxseed meal based and has hoof support as well as extra vitamin E, which most horses do not get enough of. Others would include Triple Crown 12% or 30%, Buckeye Grow N Win, and ADM Alliance GroStrong, to name a few.
You're wise to discontinue feeding cereal grains (oats, corn, barley, etc.) because starchy feeds make an existing ulcer worse and can create ulcers in horses that have pre-existing issues. I discuss this topic at length in my book, Feed Your Horse Like A Horse.
Thank you for being such a wise horse owner.
All the best,
Dr. Getty 
I interested in putting my horse on a ration balancer and taking her off grain. She is an easy keeper but does have stomach issues that I do address. Could you explain what a ration balancer does and suggest one.
Thanks always, Lisa
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO