How much salt do horses need?
Reader’s Question: How much salt does the average horse need per day? I quit giving my two horses a salt block because it was gone in a few days–they ate it like candy. I want to add loose salt to their daily feed, but I’m not sure how much to give them. I assume it depends on their size and activity level.
Dr. Hintz: You are correct in assuming that the need for sodium and chloride, which together make salt, varies with the horse’s activity, size and environment. Any factor that influences the amount a horse sweats also influences his need for salt.
The National Research Council suggests that horses at rest need only 25 grams of sodium chloride per day. However, other researchers have concluded that heavy work could increase the sodium requirement eight- or ninefold, which would necessitate providing 200 grams of sodium chloride or more in the diet or with electrolyte solutions.
If your horses perform a modest level of work, they might need about 55 to 65 grams of sodium chloride per day, which is about four teaspoons of table salt. However, there is probably already salt in their grain mix, so check the nutrient contents on the label to determine just how much more you’ll need to provide.
Harold Hintz, PhD, nutritionist
Cornell University
Note: Dr. Hintz was EQUUS’ long-time nutrition expert, contributing to our pages for decades. He was committed to educating horse owners and was happy to help in any effort towards that goal. Dr. Hintz died in 2016, a loss for us and the equine veterinary community.
This article first appeared in EQUUS magazine.
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