Adding salt to feed

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Shaznchaz

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How many people on here add salt to their horse's feed? I am currently looking at adding salt to my pony's feed, and have seen two differing opinions - one that a salt lick is fine, and one which suggests that horses cannot get enough salt from a lick and we should supplement. I have heard some people say that, due to high potassium levels in grass, at this time of year horses do not realise they are salt deficient - something to do with potassium taking the roles that sodium does, but doing a poor job of it. So should we just supplement in spring and summer?

Also, those of you who do feed salt, about how much do you feed per day, and about how big is your horse? Just so if I do go down that route I can work out approximate amounts. I guess also about how much work is your horse doing?

Thank you in advance
 
I feed a tablespoon once a day in my horses feed ( he's 15.1 cobx ), as hes on low sugar/starch diet and has PPID, it was recommmended diet for him. No adverse reactions.
I would rather add to his feed as i think you cant gauge how much a horse is having from a salt lick and naturally, mine won't touch a salt lick!! I think i'm right in saying there is no salt or very little in horse feed at all...but could be wrong!
 
I have a 15.2 and a 16.2 in light to moderate work and I give them a heaped tablespoon each day. I didn't believe that it would make any difference, but they both have white feet, and they turned yellow cream, so it did something!
 
yes, at least a tablespoon a day, and more if they sweat a lot. i mix a bit of lo-salt in with normal table salt as that's how I was trained to make cheapo electolites when eventing ;) but only a little as I know our land is low in sodium/reasonable for potassium. Neither of mine bother with the salt lick much.
 
Yup. I add a Tablespoon once daily in their feed. I have heard the salt lick is very erratic - some days they will get their fair share of salt and other days won't. I would highly recommend adding it. The website mentioned by YasandCrystal is excellent
 
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