Ask The Equine Nutritionist

QUESTION

I am giving my horse 1/4 cup of loose horse minerals a day with a salt content of 9%(it has like ten more minerals in it) plus 1 tsp of a blue loose salt. Someone told me it sounded like to much salt. The bag says to feed two ounces, which works out to be about half a cup, but a professional equestrian told me not to feed more then 1 tsp of additional salt, because she says they'll overdose.

I read that horses can have from 1 - 2.5oz per day as per The Manual Of Horsemanship from the British Horse Society, 10th Edition, which works out to be about 3-8 tablespoons of salt. Another book also stated that excess salt was only a concern in a situation where suitable water isn't available or if the horse suffers health problems - otherwise salt poisoning is almost an impossibility

I have heard that if a horse is provided with a salt block, he will consume what salt he needs at different times. At the same time, I've also heard that horse's don't "know" what they need beyond being thirsty, ect. If horses don't know what they need, how do they survive in the wild? And why is it common for them to lick at mud or dirt, which most people claim is to supplement certain minerals? Regardless of wild or domestic, wouldn't the instinct of the body will remain?

So, I guess my questions are:

1. If I feed loose salt, how much salt should a horse get per day for maintenance?

2. I realize that I should increase it for hot weather or when the horse is working hard, but how much would be too much?

3. Can I leave it up to my horse to consume the salt he needs by providing a salt block, and if so, should I feed the cobalt blue kind, the white kind, or the brown mineral kind?

ANSWER

1. The amount to supplement depends on what is already being supplied by the diet. 1 - 2 teaspoonfuls should be fine. But to be accurate you need a hay analysis (since that is the major bulk of what your horse is eating).

2. As much as he needs!! About 1 teaspoonful per hour of sweat. Again hard to give a definite amount if you don't know what else he is getting in his hay and other feed.

3. The best way to provide salt is as a loose supply in his stall or paddock where he can self feeds what he needs. They usually only eat what they need. If you use the blocks the rough texture of the block reduces the intake so they MIGHT not get enough, depends on the persistence of the horse but free choice is best.


Dr. Melyni Worth Ph.D. - 2004 (c)

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