The Most Common Deficiency Impacting Performance
Salt is essential in your horse’s diet to prevent dehydration.
“Dehydration of just 2-3% can reduce a horse’s performance by up to 10%, according to Dr. Eleanor Kellon, a renowned expert in equine nutrition.”
It plays a critical role in maintaining their overall health, energy, and performance. Here’s what you need to know about why salt is important, how to provide it, and what to watch for.
Why Horses Need Salt
Salt is made up of sodium and chloride (NaCl), two key electrolytes that horses often lack in sufficient amounts. Electrolytes are minerals that help with a variety of vital functions in the body, including:
- Producing sweat, saliva, intestinal fluids, urine, and mucus
- Facilitating skeletal muscle and heart contractions
- Preventing muscle fatigue and tying up (a muscle disorder)
- Supporting nerve function
- Aiding intestinal movement vital for digestion
- Helping nutrients absorb into cells
- Maintaining acid-base balance (pH) in the body
- Keeping the body hydrated (about 70% of a horse’s body is water)
Horses lose electrolytes through sweat, which makes salt supplementation especially crucial in hot climates or for horses that are heavily rugged, transported often, or exercised regularly.
The Role of Potassium
Unlike sodium and chloride, potassium is typically abundant in a horse’s diet. Forages like grass and hay are naturally rich in potassium, so supplementation is usually unnecessary unless the horse has limited access to food or is sweating heavily. Excess potassium is efficiently excreted in urine, as long as the horse has access to drinking water.
Effects of Salt Deficiency
Insufficient sodium in a horse’s diet can lead to dehydration, reduced energy, and poor performance. Electrolytes regulate fluid balance and energy transport within the body.
“Insufficient sodium inevitably leads to some dehydration. The brain reads sodium levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. The cerebrospinal fluid in turn is a filtrate of blood. Blood levels of sodium will be maintained by “stealing” sodium from the extracellular fluid. This leads to the decrease in skin elasticity that is familiar sign of mild to moderate dehydration.
“The rule of thumb is that as little as 2 to 3% dehydration can lead to a 10% drop in performance. However, excessive intakes need to be avoided.” — Eleanor Kellon. VMD
Supplementing Salt
To ensure your horse receives adequate salt, avoid salt licks. Some horses don’t consume enough salt when it’s offered free-choice, so it’s essential to monitor intake. Consider these strategies:
- Adding Salt to Feed: Adding salt directly to your horse’s feed is a reliable way to ensure they consume enough sodium and chloride. Start with a small amount and gradually increase to allow the horse to adjust to the taste.
- Recommended Amounts: For an average 500 kg horse, a good starting point is 10g per 100kg bodyweight of horse of salt per day. e.g 50g salt for a 500kg horse per day.
With more required in hot climates or for horses in heavy work. - Spread Out Intake: If you feed your horse more than once a day, divide the salt across meals, as horses cannot store electrolytes. This will make their feed more palatable for picky eaters too.
Understanding Maintenance Requirements
The National Research Council (NRC) recommends the following minimum daily amounts for a 500 kg horse:
- Sodium: 10 grams
- Chloride: 40 grams
These levels do not account for additional losses due to sweat during exercise or hot weather. Per 25g salt provides about 9 grams of sodium and 14 grams of chloride.
Is Pool Salt Safe?
Because manufacturing standards are not as strict for salt intended in chemical uses, it is recommended that your horse does not eat salt intended for pools due to potentially dangerous contamination.
Insurance policies maybe voided if feed ingredients are not approved for animal feed.
Final Thoughts
Salt is the only known craving horses have, but they may not consume enough on their own. Providing proper salt supplementation can prevent fatigue, dehydration, and performance issues.
The best pure salt for horses available on the market is CEN Macrobiotic Crystal Salt. Which is wild harvested in Australia, food grade and free from modern pollutants, micro-plastics or contaminants. It is unprocessed, unrefined and unbleached. The salt also retains a natural balance of minerals and trace elements.
Always ensure your horse has access to fresh water, as this is essential for processing excess electrolytes and maintaining hydration. By prioritising your horse’s salt intake, you can support their overall health especially energy and performance.
Written By Bryan Meggitt (BMedSc. PGCrtMedSc.)
Blood Scientist and Co-founder of CEN Horse Nutrition
References:
- NRC Nutrient Requirements of Horses (2007)
https://www.nap.edu/read/11653/chapter/1 - Feeding the Hoof 7-30-08 Pete Ramey 2018 additional material added to end
https://www.hoofrehab.com/Diet.html - Matsui A et al (2002) Estimation of total sweating rate and mineral loss through sweat during exercise in 2 year old horses at cool ambient temperature J.Equine Sci. 13(4):109-112 https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jes/13/4/13_4_109/_pdf
- Schott H Electrolytes for sport horses – are they needed? https://newcms.eventkaddy.net/event_data/60/session_files/EQ017_Conference_Note_jjacobs_cvma.net_EQ017_SCHOTT_Electrolytes_for_Sport_Horses_Are_They_Needed_20150511175547.pdf