weight loss - balancers v vits & mins

[ChestnutConvert]

I need to shift a little bit of weight from my arthritic WB and my vet has recommended a light chaff and light balancer as she cannot be schooled and do the harder work need to keep the weight off. She will also be getting hay soaked over 10 hours with I know will deplete protein levels and I have read that balancers will give the extra protein without the calories.
Would it be okay to feed a vit and min supplement instead or would she definitely need the extra protein?

 

[windand rain]

She would need the extra protein of the balancer. Vitamins and mineral supplements are ok but while you are removing all nutrients from her hay the desirable ones need to be added back to keep her healthy. To get it right you would need a forage analysis go get it absolutely spot on

 

[fattylumpkin]

I put my mine on a lucerne based balancer from Simple System, very satisfied so far. She'd lost weight on pure hay and a mineral salt lick, nothing else added, but her coat was poor and she had such a huge hay belly people used to ask me if she was in foal. Two months of the balancer so far and her hay belly is almost completely gone. I think windward rain is spot on about the extra protein.

 

[ChestnutConvert]

I did think that was right but wanted to double check. She is other wise in great condition ie coat etc but would like to shift the belly before it settles any where else as she is a very good doer.