When and Why to Add Salt to a Horse or Pony's Feed
Salt is an essential mineral required by a horse or pony to function normally
DIFFERENT WAYS OF PROVIDING SALT FOR A HORSE
Salt
is naturally found in seawater and brine springs, but you can provide
a supply of salt for your horse in various ways.
All equine hard feeds and horse feed mixes contain some salt.
But as salt can draw moisture from the atmosphere, which can cause horse feed to go mouldy, only small amounts of salt are added.
It may be necessary to add extra loose salt mixed into your horse's feed or to supply a pressed salt block or mineral salt lick in the horse's stable.
Himalayan crystal salt licks or salt blocks for horses are becoming very popular .
A mineralised salt block allows a horse owner to supply salt to horses that are kept at grass.
SALT LICKS CAN HELP TO RELIEVE BOREDOM IN THE STABLE
When salt licks are provided for a horse or pony in a stable they can be a toy to relieve boredom as well as an essential nutrient source.
It is especially important ensure that you horse or pony has plenty of fresh drinking water available if you are adding extra salt to his feed or providing an equine salt block.
WHEN SHOULD EXTRA SALT BE ADDED TO A HORSE OR PONY'S FEED?
Salt was traditionally given to horses as a purgative and as an appetite restorer.
Today it is recognised that performance and competition horses require extra salt to compensate for the salt that is lost through sweating during exercise and training.
Your horse or pony will sweat even in cold weather if he is being worked hard.
If your horse is clipped out it may be difficult to see the sweat as it will quickly evaporate.
A horse will regulate his own salt intake - if you provide a salt block or equine salt lick this should be adequate.
Otherwise add 1 or 2 teaspoons of salt to your horse's feed each day.
Adding salt will help to prevent dehydration, restore lost electrolytes, and therefore help to prevent any loss of performance in your horse.
You may want to use an equine electrolyte supplement instead of adding salt if your horse is working hard and sweating heavily.
INDICATIONS OF A SALT DEFICIENCY IN A HORSE
As well as a loss in performance a horse with a deficiency of salt may show symptoms such as licking, mud, wood and stones, chewing bark or eating soil.