feeding salt

[frankie8]

Pippa sweats an awfull lot during exercise, so I'm thinking I need to replace some of these lost minerals. She is on a general mineral supplement but wondered if she will be needing extra salt? Or whether a 'proper' elctro salts supplement would be better than just bog standard table salt?

 

[Erin]

My mare gets a tsp of table salt in her feed and a salt lick in her stable

 

[s4sugar]

Just allow access to a salt lick and let her self regulate.

 

[Oberon]

I am rather passionate about Salt.

Salt is very important! A horse's diet is low in salt, but they need plenty (esp when in work)

They should have free access to a pure salt lick PLUS at least 25g salt per day for maintenance.

Sodium is very important and also help with absorption of calcium. If you think that a horse needs calcium for muscle movement as well as bone remodeling (think of all the micro-injuries a horse may pick up in work), you can appreciate how important it is.

When exercising it is estimated that horses lose all their Chloride after just 2 hours! This can equate a loss of performance and energy.

To dose a horse in competition, the doseage needs to be given in accordance with their water intake and not more than four hours before exercise. If you think about endurance horses - it can be tricky....

Good old salt contains both sodium and chloride - so is very handy to feed. Don't be shy, they are not like humans and it is not damaging to be generous with salt.

 

[Supertrooper]

Sorry to jump in, should you add salt to a horses feed that's living out 24/7? He has access to a Himalayan salt lick which he does use xx

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

They should have free access to a pure salt lick PLUS at least 25g salt per day for maintenance.

what does 25g look like in tablespoons?

 

[Oberon]

what does 25g look like in tablespoons?

I measured it as a 'Slimfast scoop'. About a heaped tablespoon I think.

 

[Oberon]

Sorry to jump in, should you add salt to a horses feed that's living out 24/7? He has access to a Himalayan salt lick which he does use xx

Grazing is usually low in salt. If he is getting a bucket feed - then throw some salt in. He can excrete excess easy enough.

 

[Oberon]

Also interesting (to me) is that if a horse is low in Sodium, the body will sacrifice potassium to keep hold of salt. Potassium is needed (among other things) to regulate the heart!

So if a horse is diagnosed with low potassium, they often just need salt to fix it!
(Potassium is in abundance in grazing - so don't worry about supplementing that)

 

[frankie8]

Thanks Oberon, Pippa shall now have a well seasoned meal!