Should I add salt to my horse's feed?
The importance of electrolytes in equine nutrition
Q: I have heard riders say that they add salt to their horse’s feeds. Why do they do this, how much should you add, when should you add it - and is it just table salt, or do I need 'equestrian' salt?
Knowing how to feed electrolytes, how much and which sort can be highly confusing as there are so many different products on the market and as many different opinions. However, it doesn’t have to be so complicated.
Firstly everyone knows feeding salt is something to do with hydration but its role is often misunderstood. In basic terms salt is the commonest source of electrolytes comprising of sodium and chloride which alongside magnesium, potassium and calcium are responsible for maintaining water balance within the body and play a role in nerve and muscle function. When a horse sweats they lose obviously water from their body but also a considerable amount of electrolytes this is why you need to replace them in the diet.
Water is the most important part of any diet and a performance horse can lose many litres during a competition or while training. A fluid loss of only 2% can affect the performance of your horse so keeping him hydrated is paramount. The horse relies on sweating to control body temperature during exercise and it is generally accepted that 90% of a horse's weight loss after exercise is due to sweating. Fluid loss also occurs during travelling therefore it is important to consider re-hydration on arrival at your competition venue to ensure that your horse does not start a competition dehydrated.
It is also essential to encourage the horse to drink during the competition itself. Horses appear to find water at 20°C (normal room temperature) more palatable than chilled water or water at 30°C (e.g. water that has been left in a lorry or car on a hot day). Sugar beet water will also encourage drinking. Foods with high water content, such as grass and soaked sugar beet, can also help increase fluid intake during the competition.
For horses at Intro and Pre-Novice level or those that don’t sweat too much a salt lick provided in the stable will be sufficient, this will allow free access to salt so that your horse can regulate itself based on his individual needs. Although, it is important that you monitor your horse’s intake; some horses will not use a lick and others can become “addicted”. For horses competing at higher levels, that sweat a lot and are travelling long distances provide 1 heaped tablespoon or 28 grams of table salt per day, the easiest way to provide this is to mix it into feed. Salt will supply sufficient sodium and chloride; forage is a rich source of potassium so this and the other common electrolytes magnesium and calcium are usually over supplied in the base diet as long as you are feeding the recommended level.
If you are feeding very low levels of forage potassium can be provided by feeding “Lo Salt” (1.5 heaped tablespoons or 40 grams) particularly during the recovery phase after competition. Do not restrict forage intake to below 1% of bodyweight as fibre helps to bind water in the gut forming a fluid reservoir on which the horse can draw additional water to help keep him hydrated.
Although, there are many electrolyte products on the market most of them do not include sufficient levels of sodium therefore it is a better option to use table salt. Many commercial electrolyte products contain other trace elements which are unnecessary if you are feeding a balanced diet. A word of warning if you choose to use the syringe administered products make sure your horse has plenty of access to fresh water or you could end up inadvertently dehydrating your horse even more as this will cause large fluid shifts into the gut. Electrolytes themselves do not hydrate your horse they are needed in conjunction with water.
So; you see it doesn’t have to be so complicated. If you would like any further advice of electrolyte supplementation please call the SPILLERS® Careline on 01908 262666.