Do you add salt to feed?

[PapaverFollis]

I was reading an article the other day (goodness knows where, down some internet rabbit hole) that was recommending adding salt to feed... even if the have a salt lick. So I'm wondering if people do and if any improvements are seen.

Both my girls have free access Himalayan salt licks, and they use them! The Beast can get through a 4kg one in a matter of weeks (2 weeks was her record) and Granny isn't far behind her. With them being such enthusiastic consumers I'm not sure if adding salt to their feeds is the way to go for us.

I've recently switched them from Saracens feeds to Equimins in fast fibre and they get adlib forage. Well adlib ish since the YO would be constantly filling up The Beast's net if was true adlib... 2 big nets a day which is more than any of the others eat adlib. :lol:

I'm waffling. Do you feed salt? How, lick or in feed? Do I really need to add more salt when mine are total salt lick hounds?

 

[Leo Walker]

Yes. 40gms a day, more if hes sweated. They cant get enough salt from a salt lick, but if yours is eating 4kg in 2 weeks they must be!

I'd try salt in their feed and see what happens with the licks. They might be less interested. I guess it depends if they are doing it because they need it or because licks are fun to play with!

 

[PapaverFollis]

It's possibly cos it's something to do once she's destroyed her hay net. She is also a very sweaty horse so has a high salt requirement anyway. I might work out how much she's getting herself on average from the lick and just put a top up in the feed. 2 weeks was a record it isn't always that fast but It's definitely a bit freakish. I always thought Granny was keen on salt, until we got The Beast. :lol:

 

[JillA]

Have a read http://www.calmhealthyhorses.com/solution/salt.html

 

[PapaverFollis]

Have a read http://www.calmhealthyhorses.com/solution/salt.html

That's the article I was reading! Thing is though if she gets through the 4kg lick in a month which is probably average for her... that's 140g a day? So more than required anyway? She's 650kg, maybe bigger.

 

[Equi]

I have a salt lick he has never touched and i dont feed salt because he doesn't drink a lot any way (has a bucket of fresh water and an auto drinker) but i might give it a go to see what happens.

 

[Goldenstar]

Yes we routinely give salts ( powered electrolytes ) to all the horses when in work they also have access to rock salt .

 

[splashgirl45]

i give salt in the feed as my mare gets quite hot when ridden

 

[YasandCrystal]

I feed all 6 of mine 2 tablespoons of salt per day. I buy a 10kg sack at a time.

 

[stencilface]

Where do you buy salt in bulk? Biggest I can get is 3kg from Tesco.

Feed it to help with bloating, to encourage more drinking. My sister's horse has never suffered but mine does. Her horse always licks the metal gate after a feed, no idea why!

 

[JennBags]

I feed all 6 of mine 2 tablespoons of salt per day. I buy a 10kg sack at a time.

Where do you get a large sack of salt like this?

I feed 2 tablespoons per day, regardless.

 

[Fiona]

I feed our three salt in their feeds as they don't have salt licks. ..

Fiona

 

[SEL]

I feed a tablespoon a day to each of them. They've ignored their salt licks since I've started.

 

[Clava]

I put loose salt in a trug every day as they don't have feeds, they all lick it up and then sip from the trough then lick some more. It is very popular.

 

[milliepops]

yup always, they don't tend to use salt licks if I buy them so always stick some table salt in their dinners.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I always feed salt especially in summer when they are out and don't have access to their salt licks on a nightly basis. I probably don't feed enough and could easily double it using the 10gms per 100 kilos of body weight.

 

[WelshD]

Yes I feed salt to both of my ponies, apart from anything it makes the itchy one far less itchy

I buy big tubs of fine Himalayan salt from eBay