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Balanced Maintenance Pelleted & Cubed Feed — Top 5 Options in Canada for 2025: Expert Comparisons, Practical Buying Tips, and Which Feed Best Supports Everyday Body Condition

Published on Thursday, August 21, 2025

An all-purpose maintenance feed supplying balanced energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals for mature horses in light to moderate work or at rest. This category of pelleted and cubed feeds is designed for consistent nutrient delivery, palatability, and body condition support when used as the basis of routine daily feeding. In the Canadian market consumers favor these products because they simplify rationing across variable forage quality, resist seasonal spoilage in cooler storage environments, reduce feed sorting, and offer predictable laboratory-verified nutrient profiles. Buyers also prioritize forage-balancing ability, reliable micronutrient fortification for hooves and coat, sensible energy levels to protect against excess weight or metabolic risk, and local availability or Canadian formulation. Convenience, controlled particle size for seniors or dental-compromised horses, and trusted brand quality control are additional drivers shaping demand across provinces.

Quick Menu

1. Best Senior Support

2. Best Everyday Maintain (Canadian)

3. Best Higher-Protein Maintenance

4. Best Cubed Option

5. Best Low-Excitement/Calm Formula

1
BEST SENIOR SUPPORT

Purina Equine Senior Active

Purina Equine Senior Active

Purina Equine Senior Active is positioned as a research-backed, complete pelleted maintenance feed tailored for older or less-motivated horses, offering a highly digestible nutrient profile and added joint and digestive support compared with standard maintenance rations. Its technical strengths and broad distribution deliver dependable performance and competitive pricing for everyday feeding, while other products on this list (like Masterfeeds and Buckeye) target simpler maintenance or niche metabolic needs rather than the senior-specific formulation Purina emphasizes.

4.6
★★★★☆

  • Easy-mashed bites

  • Joint-support blend

  • Easy-mashed bites

  • Joint-support blend

Review Summary

92%

"Long-term users report it reliably keeps weight on older horses and is highly palatable and easy for horses with dental issues. Some find it pricier than alternatives and a few note occasional loose stools."

  • Senior-tailored comfort (agewise cozy)

  • Formulated specifically for aging horses with digestible energy and extra fat for weight maintenance

  • Senior-tailored comfort (agewise cozy)

  • Formulated specifically for aging horses with digestible energy and extra fat for weight maintenance

Increased Safety & Security

Time-Saving Convenience

Purina Equine Senior Active is positioned as a research-backed, complete pelleted maintenance feed tailored for older or less-motivated horses, offering a highly digestible nutrient profile and added joint and digestive support compared with standard maintenance rations. Its technical strengths and broad distribution deliver dependable performance and competitive pricing for everyday feeding, while other products on this list (like Masterfeeds and Buckeye) target simpler maintenance or niche metabolic needs rather than the senior-specific formulation Purina emphasizes.

  • Easy-mashed bites

  • Joint-support blend

  • Senior-tailored comfort (agewise cozy)

  • Formulated specifically for aging horses with digestible energy and extra fat for weight maintenance

  • Pelleted complete feed with added vitamins, minerals and prebiotic support for digestive health

  • Easy-mashed bites

  • Joint-support blend

  • Senior-tailored comfort (agewise cozy)

  • Formulated specifically for aging horses with digestible energy and extra fat for weight maintenance

  • Pelleted complete feed with added vitamins, minerals and prebiotic support for digestive health

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$40-60 CAD

2
BEST EVERYDAY MAINTAIN (CANADIAN)

Masterfeeds Maintain 12% Pellets

Masterfeeds Maintain 12% Pellets
🏠 Local Product

Masterfeeds Maintain 12% Pellets is a straightforward, cost-efficient complete pelleted feed providing a moderate 12% protein level ideal for adult horses at maintenance, making it a practical everyday choice for barns watching feed costs. Compared with higher-protein or specialty formulas such as Brooks All Phase 20 or Purina Senior, Masterfeeds prioritizes value and simplicity while still delivering balanced vitamins and minerals for routine upkeep.

4.2
★★★★☆

  • Steady daily energy

  • Perfect portion pellets

  • Steady daily energy

  • Perfect portion pellets

Review Summary

84%

"Owners say it provides steady body condition for everyday feeding, is cost-effective and consistent for maintenance needs. A handful of users mention dustiness and occasional hard pellets as minor drawbacks."

  • Low-dust comfort (snuffle-friendly)

  • 12% protein pelleted formula balanced for daily maintenance and moderate work

  • Low-dust comfort (snuffle-friendly)

  • 12% protein pelleted formula balanced for daily maintenance and moderate work

Time-Saving Convenience

Increased Safety & Security

Masterfeeds Maintain 12% Pellets is a straightforward, cost-efficient complete pelleted feed providing a moderate 12% protein level ideal for adult horses at maintenance, making it a practical everyday choice for barns watching feed costs. Compared with higher-protein or specialty formulas such as Brooks All Phase 20 or Purina Senior, Masterfeeds prioritizes value and simplicity while still delivering balanced vitamins and minerals for routine upkeep.

  • Steady daily energy

  • Perfect portion pellets

  • Low-dust comfort (snuffle-friendly)

  • 12% protein pelleted formula balanced for daily maintenance and moderate work

  • Made by a Canadian mill with a focus on consistent nutrient profile for herd feeding

  • Steady daily energy

  • Perfect portion pellets

  • Low-dust comfort (snuffle-friendly)

  • 12% protein pelleted formula balanced for daily maintenance and moderate work

  • Made by a Canadian mill with a focus on consistent nutrient profile for herd feeding

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$30-50 CAD

3
BEST HIGHER-PROTEIN MAINTENANCE

Brooks All Phase 20 Pellets

Brooks All Phase 20 Pellets
🏠 Local Product

Brooks All Phase 20 Pellets is a higher-protein, nutrient-dense pelleted feed designed for horses needing greater amino acid and energy support, making it a market leader where versatility for moderate work or condition gain is required. Technically it offers more performance-oriented nutrient density than the 12% maintenance options, which can reduce the need for feeding high volumes and may be cost-effective per unit of nutritional value for active or harder-keeping horses compared with standard maintenance feeds.

4.3
★★★★☆

  • Boosted muscle fuel

  • Multi-age versatility

  • Boosted muscle fuel

  • Multi-age versatility

Review Summary

86%

"Users praise the consistent protein and good condition in growing or working horses with noticeable feed efficiency. Several reviewers warn it can be more than needed for inactive horses and is somewhat expensive."

  • Performance-ready punch (go-getter grub)

  • 20% protein pelleted feed that supports easy keepers needing more amino acids for muscle tone

  • Performance-ready punch (go-getter grub)

  • 20% protein pelleted feed that supports easy keepers needing more amino acids for muscle tone

Time-Saving Convenience

Skill Development & Mastery

Brooks All Phase 20 Pellets is a higher-protein, nutrient-dense pelleted feed designed for horses needing greater amino acid and energy support, making it a market leader where versatility for moderate work or condition gain is required. Technically it offers more performance-oriented nutrient density than the 12% maintenance options, which can reduce the need for feeding high volumes and may be cost-effective per unit of nutritional value for active or harder-keeping horses compared with standard maintenance feeds.

  • Boosted muscle fuel

  • Multi-age versatility

  • Performance-ready punch (go-getter grub)

  • 20% protein pelleted feed that supports easy keepers needing more amino acids for muscle tone

  • Complete feed designed for flexibility across life stages from maintenance to light performance

  • Boosted muscle fuel

  • Multi-age versatility

  • Performance-ready punch (go-getter grub)

  • 20% protein pelleted feed that supports easy keepers needing more amino acids for muscle tone

  • Complete feed designed for flexibility across life stages from maintenance to light performance

Order Now

$35-55 CAD

4
BEST CUBED OPTION

Martin Mills Advantage Cubes

Martin Mills Advantage Cubes

Martin Mills Advantage Cubes deliver balanced maintenance nutrition in a cubed form that reduces dust, sorting and waste while offering easy soaking and handling—advantages for picky eaters and those needing controlled intake. Compared to pelleted alternatives in this list, the cubes trade a modest price premium for improved palatability and reduced feed loss, making them attractive for barns focused on feed efficiency and reduced labor.

4.4
★★★★☆

  • Cube-shaped convenience

  • Dense slow-eating

  • Cube-shaped convenience

  • Dense slow-eating

Review Summary

88%

"Buyers like the palatability and consistent condition results when fed daily, making it a reliable everyday cube. A minority report occasional variability in freshness between bags."

  • Palatable crunch (brick-sized yum)

  • Compact cubes offering convenience and consistent portioning for everyday feeding

  • Palatable crunch (brick-sized yum)

  • Compact cubes offering convenience and consistent portioning for everyday feeding

Time-Saving Convenience

Increased Safety & Security

Martin Mills Advantage Cubes deliver balanced maintenance nutrition in a cubed form that reduces dust, sorting and waste while offering easy soaking and handling—advantages for picky eaters and those needing controlled intake. Compared to pelleted alternatives in this list, the cubes trade a modest price premium for improved palatability and reduced feed loss, making them attractive for barns focused on feed efficiency and reduced labor.

  • Cube-shaped convenience

  • Dense slow-eating

  • Palatable crunch (brick-sized yum)

  • Compact cubes offering convenience and consistent portioning for everyday feeding

  • Formulated as a complete feed with balanced energy, fiber and micronutrients for maintenance

  • Cube-shaped convenience

  • Dense slow-eating

  • Palatable crunch (brick-sized yum)

  • Compact cubes offering convenience and consistent portioning for everyday feeding

  • Formulated as a complete feed with balanced energy, fiber and micronutrients for maintenance

Order Now

$25-45 CAD

5
BEST LOW-EXCITEMENT/CALM FORMULA

Buckeye Nutrition EZ Keeper Pellets

Buckeye Nutrition EZ Keeper Pellets

Buckeye Nutrition EZ Keeper Pellets are formulated as a low-energy, low-starch pelleted maintenance feed for easy-keeper and metabolically sensitive horses, providing everyday balanced nutrition while minimizing risk associated with excess non-structural carbohydrates. This product fills a niche that general maintenance feeds do not, offering technical advantages for weight control and metabolic management that can reduce veterinary or management costs over time compared with higher-energy maintenance and performance feeds.

4.5
★★★★☆

  • Easy-keeper balance

  • Low-sugar control

  • Easy-keeper balance

  • Low-sugar control

Review Summary

89%

"Widely praised for helping older or easy-keeper horses maintain weight with minimal intake; it's easy to chew/soak and gives consistent long-term results. Some users cite higher cost and limited regional availability as downsides."

  • Keeps girth steady (no fluff gain!)

  • Pelleted maintenance formula designed to be low in sugar and starch to reduce excitability

  • Keeps girth steady (no fluff gain!)

  • Pelleted maintenance formula designed to be low in sugar and starch to reduce excitability

Increased Safety & Security

Time-Saving Convenience

Buckeye Nutrition EZ Keeper Pellets are formulated as a low-energy, low-starch pelleted maintenance feed for easy-keeper and metabolically sensitive horses, providing everyday balanced nutrition while minimizing risk associated with excess non-structural carbohydrates. This product fills a niche that general maintenance feeds do not, offering technical advantages for weight control and metabolic management that can reduce veterinary or management costs over time compared with higher-energy maintenance and performance feeds.

  • Easy-keeper balance

  • Low-sugar control

  • Keeps girth steady (no fluff gain!)

  • Pelleted maintenance formula designed to be low in sugar and starch to reduce excitability

  • Includes controlled fat and fiber sources for steady energy and weight maintenance

  • Easy-keeper balance

  • Low-sugar control

  • Keeps girth steady (no fluff gain!)

  • Pelleted maintenance formula designed to be low in sugar and starch to reduce excitability

  • Includes controlled fat and fiber sources for steady energy and weight maintenance

Order Now

$50-80 CAD

What Research Says About Pelleted and Cubed Maintenance Feeds (Beginner-Friendly)

A range of nutritional and applied studies supports the benefits of balanced pelleted and cubed maintenance feeds for adult horses. Research and authoritative guidance emphasize matching nutrient density to workload, limiting rapidly fermentable starch for metabolically sensitive animals, and ensuring uniform delivery of vitamins and minerals to prevent subclinical deficiencies. Processing (pelleting or cubing) affects intake behavior and digestibility, so formulations and feeding rates are designed to preserve gut health while improving consistency. The following points summarize key, beginner-accessible findings from recognized equine nutrition sources and extension programs.

Foundational nutrient guidance: National and university guidelines stress formulating maintenance feeds to meet daily requirements for energy, protein, and trace minerals without excessive calories. Consistent laboratory formulation reduces the risk of deficiency or unbalanced mineral intake.

Uniform intake and palatability: Trials and extension observations show pelleted and cubed forms reduce selective eating compared with mixed textured feeds, improving consistent nutrient consumption across a herd.

Starch, glycemic response and gut health: Multiple studies indicate that managing starch level and feed processing reduces post-feeding glucose spikes and lowers risk factors linked to metabolic disease and laminitis. Formulations for maintenance typically limit rapidly fermentable carbohydrates.

Digestibility and processing effects: Research demonstrates that pelleting can increase digestibility of some nutrients because of heat and particle reduction, which is useful for older horses but requires careful starch control in at-risk animals.

Micronutrients and tissue health: Controlled inclusion of bioavailable vitamins and trace minerals in commercial maintenance feeds supports hoof, coat, and immune function over time compared with inconsistent forage-only diets, according to extension program data.

Practical, localized testing: Canadian extension services and feed labs recommend balancing commercial feeds against local forage analyses to optimize body condition and avoid over- or under-supplementation.

In Canada for 2025 this category offers practical, reliable choices for everyday maintenance feeding: Purina Equine Senior Active, Masterfeeds Maintain 12% Pellets, Brooks All Phase 20 Pellets, Martin Mills Advantage Cubes, and Buckeye Nutrition EZ Keeper Pellets. Each product serves slightly different priorities (senior support, lower protein maintenance, higher-protein all-purpose, cube format for ease of feeding, or specialized low-energy formulations), but for most Canadian owners seeking a balanced, widely available maintenance option I highlight Masterfeeds Maintain 12% Pellets as the best overall choice for routine everyday feeding due to its Canadian formulation, sensible protein level for maintenance, and strong value-and-availability profile. I hope you found what you were looking for — use the site search to refine by condition, protein level, form (pellet or cube), or to expand into senior, weight-gain, or performance-specific options.

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