should i supplement my horses diet with salt?
Posted August 18th, 2009 by admin 8 Comments »
Lizzy asked:
i have a 16 yo Hannoverian gelding that’s never used his mineral or salt licks (or atleast in the 7years i’ve had him) and i was thinking about adding salt to his dinner. he’s turned out on short grass for 8+ hours, he gets free choice hay in his stall, half scoop senior feed and 1/4 scoop 12% pellet at each of two feedings. at the second feeding he also get 10-15 alfalfa cubes soaked to create a mash, 1/4 cup corn oil and Grand Complete (supplement is for joints, hooves and coat. the hay cube mash is so he’ll eat the supplement). once a month for a week he gets Sand Clear becuase he’ll take mouthfuls of dirt while he’s grazing. i’ve done lots of recent reading that horses should have salt blocks/free choice lose salt or salt added to thier grain and since my horse doesn’t use his salt licks i was considering adding it to his grain. i know it won’t hurt him as long as he has water available but do you think it’s nessccarly? how much should i give him? i’ve read 1-2oz…..
i’m planning on talking with the owner of the feed store to see if i should add a vitamin supplement to his diet since he knows the hay and grains i feed well… i’ve promised my horse a home for life and i want to keep him healthy and sound as long as i can. thanks for any and all help!
putting a salt/mineral block in his feed tub isn’t an option since he gets a hay cube mash each night… the mash/extra water will dissolve the block so he won’t be licking it by choice… i’ve already thought about it..lol
i like to think my horse is smart but since he’s never licked his salt/mineral block maybe he doesn’t know what he’s missing…. know what i mean?!?
i have a 16 yo Hannoverian gelding that’s never used his mineral or salt licks (or atleast in the 7years i’ve had him) and i was thinking about adding salt to his dinner. he’s turned out on short grass for 8+ hours, he gets free choice hay in his stall, half scoop senior feed and 1/4 scoop 12% pellet at each of two feedings. at the second feeding he also get 10-15 alfalfa cubes soaked to create a mash, 1/4 cup corn oil and Grand Complete (supplement is for joints, hooves and coat. the hay cube mash is so he’ll eat the supplement). once a month for a week he gets Sand Clear becuase he’ll take mouthfuls of dirt while he’s grazing. i’ve done lots of recent reading that horses should have salt blocks/free choice lose salt or salt added to thier grain and since my horse doesn’t use his salt licks i was considering adding it to his grain. i know it won’t hurt him as long as he has water available but do you think it’s nessccarly? how much should i give him? i’ve read 1-2oz…..
i’m planning on talking with the owner of the feed store to see if i should add a vitamin supplement to his diet since he knows the hay and grains i feed well… i’ve promised my horse a home for life and i want to keep him healthy and sound as long as i can. thanks for any and all help!
putting a salt/mineral block in his feed tub isn’t an option since he gets a hay cube mash each night… the mash/extra water will dissolve the block so he won’t be licking it by choice… i’ve already thought about it..lol
i like to think my horse is smart but since he’s never licked his salt/mineral block maybe he doesn’t know what he’s missing…. know what i mean?!?