Salty water (electrolytes) can they have too much?

[Pocket_Pony]

Since we had a little heat wave here I decided to offer my horses a bucket of salty electrolyte water (5 gal of water with two scoops of electrolytes) in addition to their fresh regular water (muck tub). Two of my horses will go for the salty water first and drink up the whole thing.

Can they have too much salty electrolyte water? They drink 1-2 of those buckets a day and will drink that first before going to the fresh water. My other horse drank it at first but now doesn’t seem interested.

FWIW, they don’t go for their salt block as much as they seem to like this water. I do also add loose salt to their feed buckets.

[Real_Rush]

I think as long as they also consume enough plain water, they’re fine. It’s when you only offer them nothing but the salty water that you would run into trouble. What kind of electrolyte did you use? If it’s a brand that has sugar in it, that might also contribute to their likeness of it.

[SuckerForHorses]

I do also add loose salt to their feed buckets.

I do know that I would not also add loose salt to their feed if they’re readily consuming the electrolyte water.

[arapaloosa_lady]

I don’t know how large your scoops are, but that doesn’t sound like too much. What does the package say?

[Pocket_Pony]

Oops, the package says 2 scoops for 10 gallons and I was doing 2 scoops for 5 gallons. I cut back and they still prefer it. I looked at the ingredients and other than “artificial apple flavoring” (which doesn’t mean much), there were no sugars listed. I tasted it myself and it tastes quite salty!

Well I guess I’ll just keep the lower dose and keep offering it along with the fresh water. Since they don’t go for the salt blocks so much it is another way for them to self-regulate how much they want.

[JB]

I would have access to loose salt instead of blocks - a loose trace mineral salt is usually easily available - and allow access to it at least once a day. If they are stalled part of the day, having it in there is perfect. I think there’s nothing wrong offering a 5 gallon bucket with an electrolyte in it