Salt block for horses guides? Is your horse receiving the full spectrum of nutrients needed for optimum health and performance? Though we all want to provide our horses the best possible feed and nutrition, sometimes they still experience deficits that cause negative health consequences. Dr. Sarah L. Ralston at Rutgers University said, “Nutrition is frequently implicated as a cause of disease or poor performance of horses,” and deficiencies can result in clinical problems. Here, we’ll learn about vitamin and mineral nutrient deficiencies in horses, what causes them, associated symptoms, and how to resolve deficiencies. But first, what are nutrients and how do horses obtain their daily store?
What are Equine Electrolytes? According to this article in Scientific American, electrolytes are chemicals that, when dissolved in water, produce ions with an electrical charge. “These ions have either a positive or negative electrical charge, which is why we refer to these compounds as electro-lytes. In the world of nutrition, we use the word “electrolyte” more specifically to refer to minerals dissolved in the body’s fluids, creating electrically charged ions.” Discover extra information at https://blog.redmondequine.com/can-my-horse-overeat-salt.
On the topic of safety, riding with friends is always a smart decision. Group riding is safer and often more fun. Your horse will also appreciate the company of a few extra friends on the trail. And speaking of trails… Keeping to marked, well-used paths is especially important. Avoid riding off-trail in wintertime, in secluded areas, or through heavy snow where hazards like limbs, rocks, or debris may be hidden. And remember, plodding through deep snow is strenuous for your horse. You want to avoid working her too hard or getting her too sweaty before heading back to the barn. Which leads us to cooling down.
Salt and mineral blocks are heat-pressed, manmade licks. Most contain around 90% salt, with 6 to 8 trace minerals added in. So why is a manmade block an inferior choice as a horse salt and mineral supplement? Pressed blocks only contain a fraction (6 to 8) of the full spectrum of trace minerals horses need for optimum health. Horses often resort to chewing blocks to get more mineral quantity. Some contain unnecessary fillers or dyes (like those blue horse blocks). Many contain sweeteners to improve palatability and entice licking. Pressed blocks dissolve quickly in humidity or wet weather.
Keep tubs clean. Horses want fresh, clean water. Clear your horse’s water container of debris and change water frequently. If you’re using a bucket, rinse and wipe it out daily. Troughs and large containers should be cleaned weekly with a bristle brush to clear algae and contaminants. We realize a horse that’s not drinking is an immense concern. That’s why we created Redmond Rein Water. It’s an all-natural equine electrolyte drink mix that stirs easily into a water bucket and appeals to horses’ taste for salt. Find extra info at https://redmondequine.com/.