Ridecamp: Re: [RC] free choice mineral/salt supplement

You can look at the ingredients list on the label and see if they've used a
carrier ingredient (usually some sort of grain by-product with a hefty
helping of molasses) to make the block more palatable.  So, yup, some horses
will just chow down and eat the whole thing like a great big cookie.  As
Lisa already commented, just straight minerals often taste yucky (magnesium
is especially nasty---range cattle supplements are virtually required to be
mixed with something better tasting so the cows will eat it, otherwise
they'll happily die of a magnesium deficiency right next to a magnesium
source).

It's not harmful as long as the kidneys are in good shape and plenty of
water is available, but eating the whole thing doesnt mean the horse was
deficient in minerals by that enormous amount.  I think the main point to be
remembered about free choice minerals of any sort is that sodium is the only
mineral that horses will consistently develop an appetite for, and even then
it's not a particularly precise appetite---that is, if the horse eats 5
ounces of salt, the true deficiency might be either more or less than 5
ounces.  Any other minerals mixed in with the salt are coincidentally
ingested.  So yes, those "extra" minerals will certainly correct any
existing deficiencies, but they might just as likely contribute to excesses
as well.  This might especially be true of a mix being supplied to endurance
horses eating a LOT of salt, but not necessarily needing a tremendous extra
amount of selenium, or calcium or whatever.

BTW, there was a recent study published looking at the differences between
salt-deficient horses offered either loose salt or a salt block.  Both
groups were able to eat enough salt to correct deficiencies eventually, but
the loose salt group ate enough salt to correct the deficiency within a few
days; while the block salt group took over a week.  The loose salt group
also had a greater water intake than the block salt group.  Useful info,
especially for distance horses that might not have a couple weeks of down
time before the next ride.

Susan G




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