Feeding salt in summer.

[colettybetty]

Now ours are out in the fields with others at our livery yard 24/7, they no longer have access to stable salt licks. There's nowhere in the field to attach them. If other liveries agree could put loose salt in a bucket, otherwise will have to put it in feeds.
Therefore, how much, if given in feed ?(know it varies according to weather and workload)
how much for an 11 month foal ?
Is livestock salt best ? I've heard table salt is not appropriate ?

[Jessey]

You can use table salt, but for the best combo you should mix table and Lo salt to get the right balances. I don't know about livestock salt.
For the average horse I think about 1 tea spoon in the feed is adequate - I would however be a little aprehensive about putting salt into a babies feed, though they ahould be fine with it free choice.
I attach large blocks (when I remember to buy them) with a length of hose pipe on to the fence or a post, or even just stick one in a bucket :p

[Goldie'sGirl]

You said there is nowhere in the field to attatch them, does this include the round ones with a hole through like this (http://www.bitlessbridle.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=144&zenid=134d907ef0ef12503dea419efcc41ea2) then if you put some twine through it, you could hanng it off a fence post or tree branch or something?? Probably no help :rolleyes: :p
xGGx

[andreaB]

i feed normal salt

1 oz is supposed to be about the right daily amount for a full size horse in light work

whan i reworked my horses diet a while back i was quite surprised how much it is

1oz is about 30ml i believe , a teaspoon is only 5ml , so 6 a day

my horse gets a 15ml scoop in his feed twice a day

[Remmy]

If you want to feed salt then you really need the Himalayan (sp?) rock salt. It is a pure natural salt not the refined stuff in your kitchen. HRS also has other minerals essential for health. It doesn't wash away either when left on the ground in your field! I've got blocks in the stables, out in the yard and in the paddocks. They can lick for months without it going anywhere :)

Think there may be some on Ebay atm if that helps?

[Shadowlark]

Do you guys not have salt blocks over there? I keep a 20 k block in the feild, it lasts the horses about 6-8 months

I am strong advocate of free choice, not forced salt. A horse is beter off self regulating it's salt intake rather then us deciding for them. It's hard to say what they are doing now as they are in groups, but when I just had Splash in a paddock he would go weeks without touching his salts.. then suddenly go mad on it.. then back to nothing. They know what to do, we just need to offer them the option.

[Remmy]

Do you guys not have salt blocks over there? I keep a 20 k block in the feild, it lasts the horses about 6-8 months

I am strong advocate of free choice, not forced salt. A horse is beter off self regulating it's salt intake rather then us deciding for them. It's hard to say what they are doing now as they are in groups, but when I just had Splash in a paddock he would go weeks without touching his salts.. then suddenly go mad on it.. then back to nothing. They know what to do, we just need to offer them the option.


Yup, we have blocks but nothing that big, well not that I know of! The problem, as I see it anyway, is that the blocks here are still made with refined salts and whatever else the're stuck together with.... Plus they disolve at a frightening rate when it rains, if you leave them outside :eek:

You're absolutely right though, free choice is best.

[Jessey]

It doesn't wash away either when left on the ground in your field!
That would hint to me that it would be more difficult for the horses to slobber it off too :p

I get regular Rockies blocks and either hang them or put it in a bucket - it does disolve a bit but the horses seem equally happy to lick salty water :D same with loose rock salt

[colettybetty]

Thanks for the ideas,they have the hamalayian salt blocks n their stables, the mares don't touch theirs, but Malachy goes mad for his (but then he sweats more ).
We have electric fences, so hanging them up isn't possible, but putting them in a bucket is a good idea, I like the idea of free choice, although when they get worked hard and sweaty, I give them electrolytes.
Will look at the lo cal salt to mix with loose salt as well as I do have visions of malachy taking the rock salt out of the bucket by the rope and running round the field with it, shouting, 'Its all mine !'

[showjumper-zoe]

I add a bit table salt to all feeds as mine won't eat salt licks. On teh back of spillers bags it tells you to.

[Bebe]

I add a couple of teaspoons of table salt to my mares feeds all year round.
She does have a himalayan rock salt lick but pretty much ignores it. This doesn't necessarily indicate that the horse has no need for sodium, quite often their diets are high in potassium and if this is the case they won't register the need for sodium therefore will ignore licks, etc and it's best to supplement in feed.