Salt lick. Free access?

[Allie5]

My two have just gone crazy for one of those himalayan mineral salt lick things. Both licking away like mad but I know too much salt is bad for us .....but.....in this weather I know they need to replace lost salts (I'm in Glasgow and it's scorchio today!) so do I leave them to it and trust they won't poison themselves or do I restrict their access to it?

 

[RhennyRocky]

One of ours licks almost constantly, They know how much is too much so when they've had enough they'll stop licking

 

[Faro]

Horses can monitor their salt intake far, far better than we humans can. They'll take as much salt as they need and no more (even if it does seem to us like a lot!). I'm a firm believer in horses having full-time access to salt licks - mine certainly do!

 

[Alexart]

Mine always have access all the time to a salt lick and always have, they definitely won't eat more than they need!

 

[Janah]

I use the himalayan licks for my boy. Sometimes he licks all the time and at others doesn't seem to bother. I think he takes as much or as little as he needs.

I have one in the stable and one in the field.

Jane

 

[squiz22]

Mine has a great big salt lick in his stable. He loves them and goes through them quite quickly - I think its absolutely fine.

 

[fidleyspromise]

mine went through her first one at a rate of knots and then eased up on it after that.

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

My TB loves the himalayan ones. He's like a child licking a lollipop. The small-medium sized ones last about 3 or 4 days in his stable before it's gone.
I bought him one of those Uncle Jimmys hanging balls the other day, and he'd eaten the whole thing in just over an hour!!!!

My other horse isn't bothered at all by them, and neither of my horses are interested in the tradidional block salt licks.

 

[JFTDWS]

One of mine goes crazy for them... The others aren't bothered!

Alexart, you appear to have a photo of my cob in your signature lol

 

[Feathered]

My lad was the same, bought him one of the Himalayan ones, he licked it away so fast I don't know how his tongue wasn't bleeding!

 

[ChestnutConvert]

I thought i'd be nice and buy my boy one....only he doesn't seem to use it. His donkey friend does but when i tried to show him it and what to do he looked at me like 'you must be joking!' Any tips on getting him to use it, or is he just not fussed by it?

 

[fidleyspromise]

Sarah_Horsey - I wouldn't be concerned about it. generally, I would say if he's not taking it then he's not needing it.