Salt and Electrolytes - Who Needs Them?

Most mixed feeds have salt included in their ingredients.round, not just in summer months.
But I like having a salt block in the stalls at all timesI don't add electrolytes unless I have a horse that
anyway. Horses need free access to salt day andsweats a lot. It's at simple as that. Racehorses sweat
night. If a horse likes licking the salt from a salt blockduring and after a race, they need electrolytes. Polo
holder hanging in his stall, you'll know because it'll haveponies do, too, and event horses. It's rare for a day-in
the obvious lick marks.and day-out pleasure horse to need them. If they do,
That might sound a little too elementary, but it neverfollow the instructions.
ceases to astound me, even in big "high power"Don't add more than needed. Watch for excessive
stables, how little regard is paid to that salt block aftersweating with horses out in the heat of day. A school
it has been installed: a great deal of them are justhorse that clods along during lesson after lesson, is less
sitting there gathering dust and cobwebs. Pay attention.likely to need electrolytes than the horse that is "a
If you fed your horse and he didn't eat, you'd behandful" going over jumps for fifteen minutes or cross
concerned. Be concerned about the salt block. If thecountry at an accelerated pace. Be wise, know the
horse isn't using it, put it in their feed tub. They'll have tohorse. A horse that has been ridden hard, particularly
move it around to get to their feed, and will end upon a hot summer day that doesn't sweat is cause for
getting the additional salt that way. I am a firm believerconcern. Call your veterinarian and act quickly.
that horses should have salt in their daily diets year