Minerals are needed in the body for the formation of structural components, enzymatic co-factors and energy transfer. In addition, some minerals play an important role in the synthesis of vitamins, amino acids and hormones. The horse is able to get most of the necessary minerals from pasture, hay and grain. Mineral availability and content from these plant sources are variable, depending on things such as maturity at harvesting, season of the year, plant variety and conditions at harvesting. Therefore, continual evaluation of horse rations is important to provide adequate mineral nutrition for horses. Although there are seven macrominerals (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium chloride, magnesium, sulfur) required in various amounts for horses, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and chloride are of primary concern. Calcium and phosphorus can be supplied in the diet in the form of dicalcium phosphate, ground limestone and defluorinated phosphate. Sodium and chloride are provided by the addition of common salt to horse diets.
There is little danger of excess salt creating a problem unless water is not available. Excess salt, like a deficiency of salt, may depress appetite.
Free choice salt blocks should be made available to horses. A trace mineral salt block can also be provided for horses. However, a salt block and a trace mineral salt block should not be supplied to horses at the same time. Horse owners should decide whether to feed one or the other but NOT both. If both are used, the horse may choose to lick just on the salt block and not at all on the TM block. Therefore, the horse would not get the required trace minerals.
