I don't know how much they would or would not drink without the salt
being available. I do know they go through about twice as much salt
loose free choice as they do with a salt block. I stopped using salt
blocks about 10 years ago after I heard a comment from my vet that salt
blocks are made for cows not horses and most horese get tired of
licking them before they get enough salt. He also said given our
pastures (and local hay) we need to make sure they have it in front of
them all year
not just the summer.
I'm amazed how much free choice salt my horses eat in the cold weather.
They eat more in the summer but they also pack it down in the winter.
Mine tend to drink quite well in warm and cold weather both.
Truman
Merryben@xxxxxxx wrote:
Not having water at our place and having to truck it in, I have been
amazed at the amount of water horses actually drink (or don't drink)
in the winter. They drink so little it is no wonder they have more
sicknesses in the winter. Thank goodness we have a lot of grass so
they get something in them....mb
Huh. Mine don't go through much salt, winter OR summer. But most of 'em
still drink pretty well in the winter, as long as the water isn't "solid."
I have several that still happily drink 10+ gallons a day in winter, not
doing any work--I am watering the singles in 25-gallon tubs with 250-watt
heaters in them, and I have a couple of horses that cuss me out if I only
water every other day. And several others will be darn near out.
Granted, it isn't as much as they drink in the summer--but it isn't just
nuthin, either.
They DO drink quite a bit more with the heaters in there--and I'm sure
they are healthier for it.
Heidi
