Vet Advice on Salt in Your Horse's Ration 2025 🧂🐴

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

Salt—simple sodium chloride—is one of the most overlooked yet essential nutrients in your horse’s diet. Without it, horses can suffer from dehydration, poor appetite, reduced performance, and even colic. 💧 In this 2025 vet guide, Dr Duncan Houston explains how much salt your horse really needs, why it's so important, and how to safely supplement every day. 🐎🧂

1. Why Salt Matters for Horses 🧪

Salt isn’t just a seasoning—it’s a critical part of your horse’s nutritional balance. Sodium and chloride (the two elements in salt) are involved in:

• ⚡ Nerve function
• 💪 Muscle contraction
• 💧 Hydration and thirst regulation
• 🧠 Electrolyte and fluid balance

Horses lose sodium and chloride rapidly through sweat, especially in hot climates or during exercise. Unlike humans, equine sweat is very salty—meaning losses are more substantial. 🥵

2. Daily Salt Requirements: How Much is Enough? 📏

So how much salt does a horse actually need? While exact requirements depend on size, activity level, diet, and climate, general guidelines include:

In a study on moderately exercised warmbloods, 50 g of salt daily had no negative effects. However, giving 100 g led to mild blood acidification and increased sodium in the urine. ⚠️

3. Sources of Salt in Your Horse’s Diet 🍽️

Salt can be provided through:

• Commercial feeds: Most contain some sodium chloride—but usually not enough
• Forage: Hay and pasture have very little salt
• Free-choice salt blocks: Useful, but intake varies and often isn't enough
• Top-dressed table salt: Most accurate method for consistent intake
• Electrolyte supplements: Often include potassium, calcium, and magnesium

4. Signs of Salt Deficiency 🧯

Horses with inadequate salt intake may show:

• 💦 Reduced water consumption
• 😓 Poor sweating or dry skin
• 🥵 Overheating during exercise
• 🚫 Loss of appetite or lethargy
• 🌀 Increased risk of colic

Because sodium stimulates thirst, a deficiency can quickly lead to dehydration—even if water is available. Horses that stop drinking during heat or work may be low in sodium. 💧

5. How to Supplement Salt Safely ✅

Dr Duncan Houston recommends adding plain table salt (sodium chloride) directly to feed for precision. Here’s how:

🎯 Dosing Tips

• 🔹 Start with 1 tablespoon (17 g) per day and work up to 3 tablespoons (50 g)
• 🔹 Split into AM/PM meals if possible
• 🔹 Use iodized salt if no other iodine source is present
• 🔹 Monitor water intake—should increase with salt intake

⚠️ Caution:

High salt can be harmful if:

• 💧 Water is restricted or frozen
• 🐴 Horse has kidney problems
• 🐾 Horse is on a very low forage/high-concentrate diet

Always provide unlimited fresh water when supplementing salt!

6. Salt Blocks vs. Loose Salt 🧂🧱

Salt blocks (white or mineral) are popular but have drawbacks:

• 🧱 Blocks: Hard to lick, especially in cold weather; intake often too low
• 🧂 Loose salt: Better intake, especially when mixed with feed
• 🌈 Mineral blocks: May contain iron, molasses, or unknown ingredients

Dr Duncan Houston’s tip: “Use salt blocks for free-choice, but always top-dress salt to ensure minimum intake.”

7. What About Electrolytes? ⚡

Electrolyte products are helpful in some scenarios but not always necessary. Choose one if:

• Your horse sweats heavily during daily work
• You’re competing in hot, humid weather
• Rehydration is needed after travel or colic

🔍 However, check the label—some electrolyte mixes have sugar, fillers, and only small amounts of sodium. You may still need to add table salt.

8. Salt for Special Horses 🐴

🌱 Easy Keepers

• Still need salt even on low-concentrate diets
• Top-dress minimal salt and avoid sweetened blocks

🎠 Performance Horses

• Often need 2–3x more salt due to sweat losses
• Use measured table salt + quality electrolyte supplement

🦷 Seniors or Dentally Compromised

• May avoid salt blocks due to discomfort
• Loose salt or feed-top dressing is best

9. Salt Overload: When Too Much is a Problem 🚫

Excessive salt (over 100 g/day long-term) can cause:

• Increased water intake and urination
• Mineral imbalances (especially with poor-quality forage)
• Kidney stress in compromised horses

In a controlled study, 100 g of salt caused mild acidosis and urinary excretion of sodium—not dangerous, but not ideal. Stick to ~50 g/day unless sweat loss is high. 💡

10. How to Monitor Your Horse’s Hydration 💧

Salt supports hydration—but you still need to observe your horse daily. Warning signs of dehydration include:

• 🛑 Dry gums and mouth
• 🕒 Slow skin pinch test (over 2 seconds)
• 🚱 Reduced urination or dry feces
• 💤 Lethargy or sunken eyes

Make sure water is always clean, unfrozen, and easily accessible—especially in winter or when traveling. 🧊

11. Final Summary Table 📋

12. Dr Duncan Houston’s Final Advice 💬

Salt is simple—but powerful. It supports hydration, performance, and health year-round. 🧂 Whether your horse is competing, trail riding, or retired in the pasture, a daily salt top-up can make a big difference.

Need help adjusting your feeding plan? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet app 📲 for expert, customized nutrition advice anytime, anywhere.

— Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc