Nutraceuticals are products derived from food sources with extra health benefits in addition to their basic nutritional value.

Beta Carotene (Vitamin A Precursor)

A safe and effective way to provide the building blocks for vitamin A, which is vital for vision, appetite and growth.

Biotin

Essential for the integrity of hoof and skin, and maintenance of normal blood glucose levels.

Calcium

Essential as a major constituent of bones and required for muscle contractions (all movement), cell membrane function and enzyme regulation.

Carnitine

Improves mitochondrial efficiency and reduces free radicals. Supports heart muscle function, encourages lean body mass and supports joint health.

Choline

Essential for all cell membranes and neural function, necessary to support cognitive health.

Copper (inc. Protected)

Essential for improving blood flow and for the production of collagen, which provides the framework for muscles, organs and connective tissues.

Folic Acid (Vit B9)

Important for growth and development and helps to produce healthy blood cells.

Iodine

Essential for the production of thyroid hormones. A deficiency of these can cause lethargy, poor performance and infertility.

Iron

Essential for the transport and storage of oxygen around the body. It is also needed for growth, healing and immunity.

Lysine

A vital amino acid, critical for the growth of body tissues and often deficient in an equine diet.

Magnesium

Essential for the nervous system and for normal growth and development. Important for regulating muscle contractions and movement.

Manganese (inc. Protected)

Essential for the production of chondroitin sulphate to aid healthy movement and the utilisation of fats and carbohydrates for energy.

Methionine

An essential amino acid for protein and energy metabolism and vital for the production of cystine.

Niacin (Vit B3)

Important for carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, cell respiration and DNA repair.

Oligosaccharides (Fructo & Mannan) (Prebiotics)

Support the immune system by maintaining naturally high levels of macrophage activity to block harmful organisms being absorbed into the bloodstream and supports the natural expulsion of antagonists in the digestive tract. .

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids provide a daily source of essential fat components, providing the correct dietary balance with pro-inflammatory omega 6. Omega 3's are also found in large concentrations in spermatozoa and are essential for maintaining cell wall integrity and preventing moisture/oil loss from the skin.

Pantothenic Acid (Vit B5)

Essential in order for the body to synthesise coenzyme A, which is essential for fatty acid metabolism.

Phosphorous

Essential for growth, bone & teeth development, and supports urinary tract health.

Potassium

Aids fat & carbohydrate metabolism, nerve and muscle control.

Salt: Sodium Chloride

An important electrolyte which regulates bodily fluids across cells and essential for movement of nerve impulses across the body.

Seaweed Meal

High in potassium and a good source of iodine along with other trace elements. Helps sustain good bacteria in the digestive tract.

Selenium (inc. Protected)

An important antioxidant that works synergistically with vitamin E.

Threonine

A important amino acid that is often lacking in an equine diet. Aids gut health and bio-synthesis of proteins.

Toxin Binders

A blend of microscopic absorbent compounds that aid the natural expulsion of antagonists found in feed and the environment.

Vitamin A

Essential for healthy eyesight, a strong bone structure, good fertility and an active immune system.

Vitamin B1

Supports neural pathways, appetite & muscle strength.

Vitamin B2

Supports appetite, growth and healthy skin.

Vitamin B6

Supports protein metabolism, growth and cognitive function.

Vitamin B12

Essential for the utilisation of amino acids; involved in the production of red blood cells and the integrity of the nervous system.

Vitamin D3

Crucial for bone development. Also important for the immune system, fertility and the release of insulin.

Vitamin E

A biological antioxidant and essential for healthy reproductive, muscular, circulatory, nervous and immune systems.

Vitamin K

Supports optimal liver function and important for the blood clotting process.

Yeast Cultures

Help to stabilise the pH in the foregut and encourage the development of beneficial fibre digesting bacteria. This is important when feeding cereal based feeds as starch is converted into lactic acid, which can increase acidity and create an unfavourable environment for the fibre digesting bacteria. Significantly improve the digestibility of phosphorus from normal feed.

Zinc (inc. Protected)

Essential for keratin production and hoof integrity. Supports insulin production and the immune system.

Nutraceuticals are products derived from food sources with extra health benefits in addition to their basic nutritional value.

Oatinol is a natural high quality oil based concept developed by and unique to GWF Nutrition. When incorporated into the feed it supplies the following four active nutraceuticals to:

• Maintain gut cell integrity.
• Maintain the lining of the gut.
• Support the immune system.
• Aid the absorption of active ingredients, vitamins and trace elements.

Galactolipid Natural Emulsifiers

​Galactolipids are a combination of sugar and fat molecules that create the perfect medium for the absorption of active ingredients across the gut wall.

Natural Tocotrienol Antioxidants

​Tocotrienol antioxidants are a natural form of vitamin E. They are 40-60 times more readily available than other forms of vitamin E and help to maintain the integrity of the cells forming the lining of the gut to aid absorption.

Oat Derived Beta Glucans

​Beta Glucans have prebiotic properties that support beneficial bacteria in the gut to promote healthy absorption.

Phospholipids

​Phospholipids have emulsifying properties and have been shown to actively influence nutrient digestibility and absorption.

WH201224-1506

Form & Pack Size(s)

Manufactured as:

• Very Digestible 2mm Pellets
• A Complementary Feed

Available in:

• 20kg Bags

Analytical Constituents

• 16% Crude Protein
• 6.5% Crude Fat
• 12% Crude Fibre
• 9.5% Crude Ash
• <9.5% Starch
• 4% Sugar
• 1.5% Calcium
• 0.5% Phosphorus
• 0.3% Sodium
• 0.4% Magnesium
• 1.2% Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Composition

• Micronized (Sugar) Beet Pulp
• Black Oats
• Linseed Expeller
• Sunflower Seed Meal
• Calcium Carbonate
• Vegetable Oils & Fats (inc. 2.5% Oatinol)
• Oat Fibre (Bran)
• Cane (Sugar) Molasses
• 0.6% Oligosaccharides (Fructo & Mannan)
• Fenugreek Extract
• Sodium Chloride
• Calcium Sulphate Anhydrous (Pellet Binder)
• Monocalcium Phosphate
• Magnesium Oxide
• 0.1% Seaweed Meal

Nutritional Additives

Amino Acids (/kg):

• 1.2% Arginine
• 0.8% Lysine (1.3gm Lysine/ L-Lysine Monohydrochloride Technically Pure (3c322))
• 0.7% Threonine (1.3gm Threonine/ L-Threonine (3c410))
• 0.4% Methionine (0.3gm Methionine/ DL-Methionine Technically Pure (3c301))

Trace Elements (/kg):

• 196mg Zinc (3b615 Zinc Chelate of Lysine and Glutamic Acid)
• 150mg Manganese (3b504 Manganese Chelate of Amino Acids Hydrate)
• 115mg Zinc (3b603 Zinc Oxide)
• 52mg Manganese (3b502 Manganese (II) Oxide)
• 50mg Iron (3b103 Iron (II) Sulphate Monohydrate)
• 50mg Copper (3b405 Copper (II) Sulphate Pentahydrate)
• 30mg Copper (3b409 Dicopper Chloride Trihydroxide)
• 3.1mg Iodine (3b202 Iodine (I) Calcium Iodate Anhydrous)
• 1mg Selenium (3b818 Zinc-L-Selenomethionine)
• 500mcg Selenium (3b801 Sodium Selenite)

Vitamins (/kg):

• 44000iu Vitamin A (3a672a)
• 5000iu Vitamin D3 (3a671)
• 763mg Vitamin E (3a700i)
• 200mg L-Carnitine (3a910)
• 50mg Niacin (3a315)
• 30mg Calcium D-Pantothenate (3a841)
• 25mg Folic Acid (3a316)
• 20mg Vitamin B6 (3a831)
• 2.2mg Vitamin K3 (3a711)
• 1.2mg Biotin (3a880)
• 260mcg Vitamin B12 (3a835; Cyanocobalamin)
• 90mcg Vitamin A Precursor (3a160(a) Beta-Carotene)

Sensory Additives

Flavour Enhancers (/kg):

• 1.3gm L-Arginine (2b17003)
• 451mg Premixture of Flavouring Compounds

Technological Additives

Binders & Anti-Caking Agents (/kg)​:

• 772mg Sepiolite (E 562)
• 296mg Bentonite (1m558i) (Toxin Binder)

Zootechnical Additives

Digestibility Enhancers (/kg):

• 3e10 CFU 4b1702 Saccharomyces Cerevisiae CNCM I-4407 (Actisaf Sc47)          

Quality Assurance / Storage Advice & Additional Information 

• This product is manufactured to Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) standard.
• This product should be stored in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight.
• Download product Images.​

For more detailed information relating to the benefits of this product, please refer to the following Knowledge Base articles:

• The Role of Nutricines in Health
• The Oatinol Delivery System

Equilibra is a very complex balancer with over 40 ingredients and has stood the test of time for over 30 years. It was the first ever balancer and pioneered an entirely new way of feeding horses. It features our proprietary Oatinol Delivery System™ making it exceptional in its field and still the only balancer your horse will ever need.

Oatinol™ allows for the improved absorption of nutrients by blocking pathogens and supporting the immune system, maintaining cell integrity and the gut lining, and finally aiding the absorption of key ingredients.

The gut lining is an important line of defence for any species, which means that the absorption of some nutrients can be problematic. For example, simple inorganic minerals can bind together making them too big to pass through the lining of the gut. They are then simply passed through the body. Oatinol™ improves the absorption of these important nutrients using a lipid base to help emulsify them and ease their passage through the digestive wall.

In more technical detail Oatinol combines the actions of Galactolipids, Antioxidants (natural Vitamin E), Beta Glucans (Oat) and especially Phospholipids.

OneCup is a simple balancer designed to be fed at low feed rates (100grams) whilst Equilibra is fed at 500grams.

The additional feed rate from Equilibra has a nutritional benefit to the horse, whilst OneCup is much more concentrated and the feed element is only for palatability. This means OneCup is particularly suitable for those with a higher body condition or in low work.

Equilibra also enables the equine to absorb more nutrients from forage and reduces the need to feed as much concentrate and is therefore more cost effective.

Equilibra is typically fed to:

Dressage/Eventing/Showjumping – typically medium-high work horses and ponies, for example Warmbloods, Irish Sport Horses, Friesians, Andalusians, Thoroughbreds, Holsteins and the British Riding Pony.

Hacking/Riding – typically light-medium work and sometimes high work horses and ponies, for example Welsh Cobs, Andalusians, Friesians & Connemaras.

Heavy/Draft Horses – typically medium-high work horses (pulling drays, farm work and heavy pulling), for example Suffolk Punch, Shires, Clydesdales and Cleveland Bays.

Harness Racing – typically medium-high work; sometimes light work horses and ponies, for example Standardbreds, Trotters and Hackneys.

Racing – typically extreme work with heavy concentrate feeding and bespoke diets in racing, for example Arabian & Thoroughbred horses. Lighter feed rates in lower work/retirement – lean but higher concentrate feed rate.

OneCup, on the other hand, is designed to be fed to more conditioned horses, breeds that put on weight easily (good doers) and under light workloads, for example Cobs (such as Welsh, heavy breed cobs), equines in low work and ponies (Exmoor, Dartmoor, New Forest, Dales, Fell, Highland and Shetland ponies).

OneCup does not contain any hemp meal, so if you are looking to avoid hemp completely it can be a cost effective alternative for providing sufficient minerals and vitamins to your horse.

Absolutely not. Equilibra is designed to be fed as the sole balancer, as any balancer should be. The same applies for Equilibra and OneCup - only one should ever be fed at one time. Combining these products carries a risk of over supplying certain minerals, which can be toxic (for example copper or selenium).

When changing to Equilibra from another balancer, we would recommend making the change gradually over a week, starting with 50% of each and eventually phasing the original balancer out.

Yes of course, apart from OneCup as outlined above. Many customers often use a variety of our other supplements together and Equilibra also offers many complementary actives that work alongside our supplements. For instance, where horses may be prone to laminitis, Equilibra and our supplement X-Lam Aid work very well together to supply the equine with the required nutrients whilst buffering the negative effects of acid loading in the digestive system.

GWF supplements are designed to support your horse's health in specific ways whilst Equilibra provides a solid foundation to help support overall wellbeing. The crux of Equilibra is to provide the daily requirements for minerals & vitamins and to improve the digestion of forage.

Yes of course, if you would like a sample of one of our products please just get in touch.

Our feeds and supplements are available at most good pet shops and country stores around the UK. To find a local stockist in your area search using our Stockist Locator. If your local feed store is not currently stocking Equilibra please let us know and we may be able to help. Alternatively our products are also available from a variety of online retailers.

Yes. Equilibra must be fed at the designed feed rate. Any shortage in condition not filled by hay or grass means an additional feed like Fibregest is required.

For rapid energy required for showjumping, cross-country, hunting or eventing we would recommend Tiger Oats.

Yes Equilibra is completely free from GM ingredients.

No, Equilibra does not contain a particularly high level of starch. The starch content also comes from black oats, meaning that the energy is released over a longer time period and is safer in an equine diet. Starch still plays a role in energy supply in an equine's diet (although particular disorders may mean alternatives to starch need to be sought). Oat starch is also fundamental to the Oatinol Delivery System™ in Equilibra and many of our other products, which enables a higher absorption rate of important active ingredients.

No absolutely not. It does contain horse (black) oats, which have less starch than feed oats. They also provide slower release energy when compared with feeds like wheat or maize, which are much higher in starch and can be dangerous for an equine.

Unfortunately a lot of the balancers on the market do use wheatfeed (middlings) - this is a wheat by-product which can cause allergies.

As well as black oats, Equilibra also contains hempseed and micronized beet pulp. We are confident that its use will be beneficial for your horse.

Yes to ensure the utilisation of key minerals, specific hydroxy (protected) trace elements are used. This is important to ensure your horse is getting the right amount and within safe limits. It also stops the negative interaction of specific minerals including like manganese and zinc. Within Equilibra manganese, copper, zinc and selenium are protected to ensure that the right proportion reaches the right location in the gut and then into individual cells.

Yes it does. It's worth mentioning that the specific digestive support that Equilibra provides helps to increase the often limited bio-availability of biotin, and particularly benefits the role it plays within the hoof alongside zinc and keratin.  

Yes. Horses need 21 amino acids in total and whilst the body can manufacture some of these from its feed supply, others need to be added. Some feed ingredients already contain a rich supply of certain amino acids - for example we use linseed expeller as a good source of lysine. However, we also add concentrated forms of lysine, methionine and threonine. Both threonine and lysine are often very lacking in a typical equine diet, especially lysine which is hard to balance in GM free diets where soya is not present.

Beet pulp is the fibre left after sugar is extracted from sugar beet, mainly carried out in the UK at British Sugar in East Anglia. Sugar extraction has evolved significantly in the past two decades and residues are minimal. What is left are high quality digestible fibres which are excellent gut conditioners for both ruminants and hind gut fermenters like horses. This is a great slow release energy source, making it a perfect nutritional fit across the day.

Beet pulp also contains pectin fibres which are excellent for hind gut fermentation and for strengthening the natural mucus layer that lines the digestive tract. This surface protection helps to prevent antagonists from entering via the gut wall into the blood stream and is very beneficial against the causes of metabolic laminitis.

Micronized sugar beet pulp is made from unmolassed sugar beet pulp which has not had any molasses added to it, meaning it is 95% sugar free. The act of micronizing involves a type of cooking and then flaking. This prevents protein from denaturing and provides a perfect fibre profile for a horse or pony. This is important because fibre digestion can occur right the way along the gut length.  

Sugar fed in significant amounts can indeed be very detrimental for horses - this is particularly seen in the spring when grass sugars are at their highest, often leading to laminitis or colic symptoms.

However, we only use a tiny percentage of cane molasses within Equilibra to help with physical pellet quality and consistency. When you consider that 40% of the molasses is also water, the sugar amount in 500gms of Equilibra is actually very small. As a comparison, 1kg of hay will contain as much as 100gms of sugar!

Basically there is sugar in everything in one form or another and the key factor is the quantity being fed. Little and often is always the best way, because the impact of lower levels of sugar entering the bloodstream over a longer period is much easier for insulin resistant equines to deal with.

Although Equilibra is a very complex balancer with over 40 ingredients standing the test of time for over 30 years, it is very cost effective! It reduces your horse's need for additional concentrate by reducing overall feed rates. It can also be the sole feed aside from forages of grass, hay and possibly haylage.

Sometimes a horse may need additional supplements for example:

• A competition horse may benefit from Muscle Maintenance for Horses.
• Adding X Lam Aid into the diet from mid spring/early summer can be beneficial for dealing with the lower fibre and higher sugar content in grass.

Equilibra is very suitable for horses with EMS/Cushing’s. The main issue here is insulin resistance either caused by excess fat deposits with EMS or the effect of the hormone cortisol associated with Cushing’s. Recent research has shown that the addition of Omega 3’s to the diet for horses and ponies exhibiting insulin resistance has improved insulin sensitivity and the movement of sugar from the blood into cells. Combining this with a low calorie high roughage diet also helps with weight control, sugar input and overall digestive health.

Equilibra also contains high levels of added and natural antioxidants which are thought to help prevent the onset of Cushing’s disease. It is thought that low levels of antioxidants in the blood might be a predisposing factor in the abnormal development in the pituitary gland in the brain of older horses and ponies.