I feed Redmond salt daily in their feed and have no trouble getting them to eat it. They also have white salt blocks out in the field.
Salt block always available. Throughout the summer I toss some salt into the feed. Home made mix of normal table salt to light salt in a 1:1 ratio. This actually gives you roughly a 3:1 ratio of sodium chloride to potassium chloride. Usually add about 1 tsp am and pm, or one tbs in pm depending on the boarding situation.
I had read a very interesting piece on the importance of salt, and after my vet had told me to pitch the electrolytes and feed just salt, I got to digging, and I was pretty amazed at the types of symptoms that correspond to salt deficiency, and how many of those issues I had seen from time to time in my own horse, especially before he was on electrolytes, but still sometimes while on. It was an eye opener and then I just had to get the correct answer on amounts and types… The iodized vs non, etc. I’m not sure how picky my guy is going to be about the salt, he ate up the electrolytes just fine, which smelled amazingly of apple, but upon tasting (yes, I tasted them) they tasted like a very strong salt anyway. He’s eating a senior grain now, so it’s nice and sticky and I shouldn’t have much trouble getting the salt into him that way.
This brings me to my next point, that horses at risk of impaction colic should receive more salt to help promote healthy drinking and thus helping to keep things going smoothly. I’m considering a change of hay which will leave him at a higher risk, because it’s a finer hay, and so salt is becoming more and more important to me now!
If you haven’t heard much about salt, and just assume electrolytes will do the job (they dont! and often still don’t contain enough SALT) I strongly suggest google and research! It’s quite enlightening, and also, salt is cheap! Yippee!
[QUOTE=One Two Three;8308466]
I had read a very interesting piece on the importance of salt, and after my vet had told me to pitch the electrolytes and feed just salt, I got to digging, and I was pretty amazed at the types of symptoms that correspond to salt deficiency, and how many of those issues I had seen from time to time in my own horse, especially before he was on electrolytes, but still sometimes while on. It was an eye opener and then I just had to get the correct answer on amounts and types… The iodized vs non, etc. I’m not sure how picky my guy is going to be about the salt, he ate up the electrolytes just fine, which smelled amazingly of apple, but upon tasting (yes, I tasted them) they tasted like a very strong salt anyway. He’s eating a senior grain now, so it’s nice and sticky and I shouldn’t have much trouble getting the salt into him that way.
This brings me to my next point, that horses at risk of impaction colic should receive more salt to help promote healthy drinking and thus helping to keep things going smoothly. I’m considering a change of hay which will leave him at a higher risk, because it’s a finer hay, and so salt is becoming more and more important to me now!
If you haven’t heard much about salt, and just assume electrolytes will do the job (they dont! and often still don’t contain enough SALT) I strongly suggest google and research! It’s quite enlightening, and also, salt is cheap! Yippee![/QUOTE]
There was a thread about salt/ electrolytes not that long ago that’s a pretty good read and has some good studies and such linked through it. Most people are still stuck in the traditional - they have a salt block ie they’re fine mentality. If you want to look at some more salt/ electrolyte info, search Dr.Susan Garlinghouse- she’s got some really good studies out there
All of our horses get about 1 oz daily in their feed. They only get about 3/4 lb of a mfg feed so not much there and our hay provides about 5x the daily recommendation for potassium. When I work my guys hard they get another 1/2 to 1 Tbsp in their post workout snack. I ride endurance so hydration is extremely important to me.
ETA: iodized loose feed salt is about $7 per 22.7 kg bag at our feed stores.
I never liked those holders but did have great luck just putting the bricks in the feed tub. Gets messy if they break it up and slobber on it but it’s cheap and you know they are getting it.
[QUOTE=tabula rashah;8308593]
There was a thread about salt/ electrolytes not that long ago that’s a pretty good read and has some good studies and such linked through it. Most people are still stuck in the traditional - they have a salt block ie they’re fine mentality. If you want to look at some more salt/ electrolyte info, search Dr.Susan Garlinghouse- she’s got some really good studies out there[/QUOTE]
I believe her studies are the ones I read—was on google books and read a piece on electrolytes vs salt and it was eye opening!
see below
I had a salt block in my paint’s stall since she was a weanling. She would not touch it. I would went my hand, rub the salt block and let her lick my hand. Nope she wasn’t interested at all. I decided to give it to her in her feed, only a teaspoon once a day. On the third morning her legs had swelled up like stove pipes. Immediately stopped the salt and within 2 days her legs were back to normal. She has never had salt since and still refuses the salt block. Doesn’t matter if white, red, blue or Himalayan. She does drink enough water which is good.
She is now 9 and in excellent health (touch wood).
[QUOTE=One Two Three;8308466]
I had read a very interesting piece on the importance of salt, and after my vet had told me to pitch the electrolytes and feed just salt, I got to digging, and I was pretty amazed at the types of symptoms that correspond to salt deficiency, and how many of those issues I had seen from time to time in my own horse, especially before he was on electrolytes, but still sometimes while on.[/QUOTE]
Could you describe what you saw in your horse before you gave salt?
I just got one of these from Tractor Supply http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/fortiflex-mf-2-mineral-feeder-2x175-qt-capacity-black?cm_vc=-10005
and put salt in one side and free choice minerals in the other. They take what they want of whichever side and go about their business. I just keep it full. When it is hot, the salt disappears super fast, so I buy large boxes from costco. 
Just make sure it is under somewhere so it won’t get wet and have lots of water always available.
I remember reading that the salt blocks/mineral blocks for livestock are really designed for cattle, who have rougher tongues and are capable of licking off quite a bit at a go. If a 2000 lb horse needs 13 g of salt daily (this is again from memory, that might be off), it said there’s no way for the horse to lick enough salt off the block to fulfill his daily ration. Thus, you should only feed loose salt. Can anyone back this information, or has time and imagination had it’s way with something I read?
[QUOTE=TheMountainsAreCalling;8309666]
I remember reading that the salt blocks/mineral blocks for livestock are really designed for cattle, who have rougher tongues and are capable of licking off quite a bit at a go. If a 2000 lb horse needs 13 g of salt daily (this is again from memory, that might be off), it said there’s no way for the horse to lick enough salt off the block to fulfill his daily ration. Thus, you should only feed loose salt. Can anyone back this information, or has time and imagination had it’s way with something I read?[/QUOTE]
No, not imagining that. I remember this almost word for word, maybe from that other recent thread. Something like the white 50 pound blocks are so dense, meant for the cow’s rough tongue, that a horse would end up with slices or abrasions on the tongue before getting adequate intake.
I recall that to.
One Two Three, can you link to the salt studies? I’ve googled and can’t find them.
1oz of electrolytes daily for those getting a fortified feed; 2oz daily for my draft cross/EPSM guys who feed I mix myself for them to get the extra fat they need. Everyone has access to mineral blocks to supplement that if they wish.
[QUOTE=stb;8309768]
One Two Three, can you link to the salt studies? I’ve googled and can’t find them.[/QUOTE]
I’m trying to find it now–it was on google books, I think I actually got the link from a thread on here. Give me some time to look for it!
[QUOTE=keysfins;8309248]
Could you describe what you saw in your horse before you gave salt?[/QUOTE]
So I should be a little more specific that these are symptoms I came across through reading when there is excess potassium and a lack of/imbalance of sodium.
Inflammation of muscles & legs (which is interesting because someone here mentioned their horse blew up after salt intake–in my research it seems to be the opposite)
Lack of energy–more whoah than go when it is not typical of the horse’s personality
Weight loss, trouble with top line
Sensitivity in the hindquarters/difficulty when backing up
abdominal bloating
sucked up appearance around ribs & loin
a lot of common symptoms that you’d immediately scream “ulcers” like ear pinning, irritability, etc.
It always seemed like my horse would get cranky when I took him off or he ran out of electrolytes. Nothing TOO extreme, but he would have more ‘off’ days, and then when I put him back on, he’d look better, act better, etc. It was really strange. He’s been off electrolytes for two days now, and he’s grumpier–starting salt today.
It’s also notable to add that I believe in the book (which I am still looking for the link for, sorry!) it stated that in some cases electrolytes seem to exacerbate ulcer horses or cause more stomach upset than plain salt. This is another reason I’m willing and happy to try plain salt. Gosh It’s going to drive me batty until I find the link, because it had some REALLY good points about why salt is more important than electrolytes for MOST horses.
Excuse me while I tear apart the internet looking! I do recall it started on page 105 of the book on google books. But that’s all I’ve got right now! agh!
FOUND IT!
[QUOTE=keysfins;8309675]
No, not imagining that. I remember this almost word for word, maybe from that other recent thread. Something like the white 50 pound blocks are so dense, meant for the cow’s rough tongue, that a horse would end up with slices or abrasions on the tongue before getting adequate intake.[/QUOTE]
My experience does not agree with this, not saying it is not the case with others. My pony makes 50pound white blocks into salt-lick art. She licks it with the most content look on her face.
