A balancer tends to be in the form of a small pellet and a supplement tends to be a powder although there are always exceptions to the rule. This usually means that the feeding rates of supplements are much lower than balancers – typically less than 100grms per day as opposed to 500grams per day for a balancer. This also often means that a balancer provides more of the macro nutrients such as protein and also energy – although a balancer is a low energy option compared to a traditional mix or cube, supplements tend to be even lower energy than balancers. The pellet format can be more convenient to feed – powders need to be mixed into something and often dampened. Supplements can offer really good value for money.
For horses and ponies with a history of laminitis, feeds such as Hi-Fi Molasses Free mixed with Alfalfa Pellets or high fibre cubes can be a lower sugar option than those based on grass. However, they won’t be as digestible and so a horse or pony may not do so well on them which may require some additional oil to be added to help maintain bodyweight safely.