If you’ve ever stood in front of the horse feed wall thinking, “Okay… but what’s the actual difference between these?”, you’re not alone.

Buckeye makes feeds that are designed to solve specific problems: weight gain, growth, performance energy, easy keepers, seniors, or “my horse needs vitamins but not more calories.” Once you know what each line is meant to do, choosing becomes a lot simpler.

Below is a clear breakdown of the Buckeye feeds you listed (plus who they’re best for, why people choose them, and how they fit into a real feeding program).

Heads-up: exact nutrient numbers (NSC, fat %, lysine, etc.) can vary by product version and region. Always confirm with the feed tag (we can help in-store) and adjust with your hay quality, workload, and vet guidance.

Start here: 3 quick questions that pick the right feed fast

1) Is your horse an easy keeper or hard keeper?

Easy keeper / metabolic concerns → you want controlled calories and often lower sugar/starch.
Hard keeper / needs weight → you want higher calorie density (fat, fermentable fiber) and sometimes a top dress.

2) Is the horse getting enough forage?

If your horse can’t chew well, is underweight, or can’t maintain on hay alone, a complete feed can replace some forage safely.

3) Are you feeding for growth, performance, maintenance, or senior support?

That’s where the product lines below really separate.

The Buckeye “Families” in your list

A) Ration Balancers & Growth Support

These are for horses who don’t need a lot of grain calories, but do need concentrated vitamins/minerals and high-quality protein.

Buckeye GRO ’N WIN™ Ration Balancer (50 lb)

Best for: easy keepers, horses on mostly hay/pasture, horses needing topline support without extra calories
Why people love it:

Delivers amino acids + minerals + vitamins in a smaller feeding amount
Helps build topline/muscle when forage alone isn’t enough
Great for “my horse looks okay but lacks muscle” situations
Typical use: feed alongside hay/pasture to “complete” the diet without adding a lot of energy.

Buckeye GRO ’N WIN™ Alfa

Best for: horses needing condition + protein, especially when you want the benefits of alfalfa in a controlled, bagged format
Why people love it:

Adds quality calories and protein in a forage-friendly way
Useful for horses needing extra bloom without switching the whole diet
Great for: hard keepers, performance horses needing more fuel, horses that do well on alfalfa-based support.

Buckeye GROWTH Pelleted Feed

Best for: growing horses (weanlings/yearlings) and young horses needing structured nutrition
Why it matters:

Growth nutrition is about more than “getting bigger”—it’s about balanced minerals + controlled energy to support sound development
Great for: owners who want a straightforward pellet designed for growth stages.

Buckeye FOAL STARTER Milk-Based Pellet

Best for: foals transitioning from milk to solid feed (and supporting early development)
Why people choose it:

Milk-based starter feeds are designed to be palatable and supportive during a sensitive stage
Great for: breeding farms, new foal owners, early-weaning support.

B) “Safe” Energy & Easy-Keeper Feeds

These are designed for horses that need performance support or a complete feed option, but with a focus on safer calories and practical management.

Buckeye SAFE ’N EASY™ Complete Pelleted Feed

Best for: easy keepers, horses that need a complete feed option, or horses needing a consistent base diet
Why people love it:

“Complete” feeds are designed so they can replace part of forage if needed
Helpful for horses with limited hay access, picky eaters, or management challenges
Great for: barn situations where consistency matters, or for horses that need a controlled program.

Buckeye SAFE ’N EASY™ PERFORMANCE Pelleted Feed

Best for: horses in work that need more fuel than a balancer provides, but owners want a steadier, “safer” approach than high-starch feeds
Why people love it:

Supports performance without the “hot” spikes some horses get from richer sweet feeds
Often chosen for horses that need energy + condition but still benefit from controlled feeding
Great for: eventing/trail/arena horses, horses that need more than maintenance.

C) Performance & “Finish” Products

These are for horses needing serious calories, show-ring bloom, weight gain, or performance support.

Buckeye CADENCE™ Textured Feed

Best for: horses that do well on a traditional textured feed and need palatability + energy
Why people love it:

Highly palatable for picky eaters
A common choice when horses need “more” than a pellet-only program
Great for: moderate-to-higher energy needs, hard keepers that eat better with texture.

Buckeye CADENCE™ ULTRA Sweet Pelleted Feed

Best for: horses that need a more “forward” energy feed, with sweet-feed appeal but pellet consistency
Why people choose it:

Palatability + convenience of a pellet
Often selected for horses that need added energy and owners want easier measuring/less sorting than textured
Great for: performance horses, horses needing condition where appetite is part of the challenge.

Buckeye ULTIMATE FINISH™ (25 / 40 / 100)

These are “finish” products, designed to add condition, bloom, and calories in different ways.

Because names alone don’t guarantee what’s inside (fat %, form, top-dress vs complete), here’s the safest, most useful way to understand them:

ULTIMATE FINISH™ 25
Best for: adding calories/condition in a controlled way
Use case: “My horse needs more topline and weight, but I don’t want to overhaul everything.”
ULTIMATE FINISH™ 40 (9 kg)
Best for: higher-impact finishing support (often used when you need a more noticeable change in condition/bloom)
Use case: show prep, hard keepers, horses needing more calorie density.
ULTIMATE FINISH™ 100 (9.07 kg)
Best for: concentrated, premium “finish” support (often used as a targeted add-on)
Use case: when you want maximum impact per serving—especially for hard keepers or intense work.

How to think of Finish products:
They’re commonly used as a top-dress or targeted add-on to a base feed, especially when:

the horse needs weight without huge meal volume
the horse burns calories fast
you’re chasing coat shine, bloom, and condition

✅ Tip: Finish products can be powerful—introduce slowly and adjust based on manure quality, attitude, and body condition.

D) Senior Support

Buckeye SENIOR Pellet Complete Horse Feed for Mature Horses

Best for: older horses, horses with dental wear, horses struggling to maintain weight on hay alone
Why people love it:

Senior complete feeds are often easier to chew and digest
Helpful for maintaining condition and supporting older digestive systems
Great for: seniors needing a consistent calorie source, horses that quids hay, or older horses in winter.

Treats (No Sugar Added)

These are great for training, bonding, and reward, without adding a lot of sugar.

Why people like them: simple, training-friendly, and useful when you’re trying to keep sugar/starch lower.

Quick “Which one is for me?” cheat sheet

If your horse is an easy keeper and mostly on hay: → GRO ’N WIN Ration Balancer (nutrients without big calories)

If your horse needs condition + protein and does well with alfalfa support: → GRO ’N WIN Alfa

If you have a growing horse: → GROWTH Pelleted Feed (or FOAL STARTER for young foals)

If you need a complete feed option (can replace some forage): → SAFE ’N EASY Complete or SENIOR Complete (for older horses)

If you want performance support without going “too hot”: → SAFE ’N EASY Performance

If your horse needs more energy/condition and loves textured/sweet feeds: → CADENCE Textured or CADENCE Ultra Sweet Pelleted

If your horse is a hard keeper or you want show-ring bloom/finish: → ULTIMATE FINISH 25 / 40 / 100 (choose intensity based on need)

Product	Category	Best For	Key Benefits / Why Choose It	Notes / Best Use
Buckeye ULTIMATE FINISH™ 25	Finish / Condition	Hard keepers, adding weight + bloom	Adds calorie density and condition support	Best as a targeted add-on/top dress; introduce slowly
Buckeye ULTIMATE FINISH™ 40	Finish / Condition (higher impact)	Show prep, hard keepers needing more	Stronger “finish” support for visible condition/bloom	Concentrated—follow rates; watch manure/attitude
Buckeye ULTIMATE FINISH™ 100	Finish / Premium conditioner	Maximum condition support per serving	Highly concentrated support for hard keepers/performance	Great when you need impact without large feed volume
Buckeye GRO ’N WIN™ Ration Balancer	Ration Balancer	Easy keepers, hay/pasture diets, topline	Concentrated vitamins/minerals + amino acids without lots of calories	Ideal “base” when forage is main diet
Buckeye GRO ’N WIN™ Alfa	Alfalfa-based support	Horses needing more protein/condition	Adds quality calories + protein; supports condition/topline	Useful add-on when you want alfalfa benefits
Buckeye CADENCE™ Textured Feed	Performance / Energy (textured)	Horses needing more energy; picky eaters	Palatable textured feed for energy and condition	Common choice when pellets aren’t enough/horse sorts less
Buckeye CADENCE™ ULTRA Sweet Pelleted Feed	Performance / Energy (sweet-style pellet)	Performance or condition; picky eaters	Sweet-feed appeal + pellet consistency	Higher energy feel; keep meals balanced and consistent
Buckeye SAFE ’N EASY™ PERFORMANCE Pelleted Feed	Performance (controlled)	Horses in work needing steadier energy	Performance support with more “even” energy	Good option for horses that get “hot” on richer feeds
Buckeye SAFE ’N EASY™ Complete Pelleted Feed	Complete Feed	Easy keepers, consistent base diet, forage-limited	Can replace some forage; steady, practical feeding	Great for barn consistency; still prioritize forage when possible
Buckeye SENIOR Pellet Complete	Senior Complete	Older horses, dental issues, maintaining weight	Easier to chew/digest; supports senior condition	Good when hay intake/chewing becomes difficult
Buckeye GROWTH Pelleted Feed	Growth	Young horses needing balanced development	Designed to support steady, healthy growth	Use with proper forage; avoid overfeeding calories
Buckeye FOAL STARTER Milk-Based Pellet	Foal Starter	Foals transitioning to solid feed	Palatable early nutrition support for foals	Follow stage-appropriate feeding; gradual transitions
No Sugar Added Peppermint Bits	Treats	Training + rewarding	Lower sugar option for treats	Still treats—feed in moderation
No Sugar Added Carrot Crunchers	Treats	Training + rewarding	Lower sugar option for treats	Good for easy keepers when you want a safer reward
No Sugar Added Apple Snap Treats	Treats	Training + rewarding	Lower sugar option for treats	Great for pockets/treat jars without added sugar

The smartest way to switch feeds

No matter which feed you choose:

Transition over 7–10 days (slower for sensitive horses)
Keep forage as the foundation whenever possible
Feed by weight, not just scoops (scoops vary)
Match feed to workload + hay quality + body condition score
If metabolic concerns exist (EMS/IR/laminitis history), ask us to help you pick the safest option

Want a perfect match? Bring us 3 details

If you tell us:

your horse’s age
workload (easy/moderate/heavy)
easy keeper vs hard keeper (or a photo/body condition)

…we can point you to the best Buckeye option and a simple feeding starting point.

Buckeye Horse Feed Breakdown: Which Bag Is Right for Your Horse?