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Salt is an essential nutrient for horses, and salt blocks provide an easy way to ensure they get what they need. But with several different salt block options available, which is best for horses? Thankfully, new research suggests that horses readily accept most types of salt supplementation—with one exception.

Cornell University researchers surveyed 342 horse owners about the type of salt they offered their horses. They learned that 30 percent provided plain salt, 29 percent provided salt fortified with other minerals and 27 percent offered pink Himalayan salt.

In the second phase of the study, the researchers conducted preference tests with a group of mature mares. In a series of trials, the horses were allowed to choose between two types of salt blocks—plain and mineralized (red) salt; mineralized salt and selenium (green) blocks; plain salt and selenium; Himalayan (pink) and plain; and Himalayan and selenium.

During each trial researchers tracked how long horses licked each block. The data revealed that when given a choice, horses preferred plain salt to Himalayan salt but showed no preference between the other combinations.

The researchers conclude that, “with the exception of Himalayan salt which horses may avoid, the results indicate that when provided in a block form, horses found the salt types presented acceptable. Therefore, horses will ingest salt regardless of the preparation so that owners can be confident that they can provide a salt block containing the nutrients, in addition to sodium chloride, that are necessary in their nutritional management.”

Reference: “Salt preferences of horses for types of NaCl offered,” Research in Veterinary Science, May 2024