Himalayan Salt for my Horses, Good or Bad?!
A recent post that I shared in my Hearts of Horses group about the importance of salt for our horses especially in hot weather, opened a discussion on the use of Himalayan salt.  It got me wondering…so I did a little research.

The only mineral which a horse has a taste for is salt.   In situations where an animal is deprived or deficient, they will seek it out readily.  As caregivers for our horses, it is critical that we provide some form of salt, as many functions of the body depend upon it.

Some of these critical functions are…
  • Heart contraction
  • Intestinal movement and fluid balance
  • Absorption of  nutrients in the gut
  • Muscle contraction
  • Nerve function
  • PH balance
  • Keeping the body hydrated
  • An averaged size horse, in cool weather, needs a minimum of 1 oz per day of salt. 2-4 oz for that same horse in hot weather.
Legend has it that the salt beds of Pakistan were discovered by Alexander the Great’s horse, Bucephalus, who stopped to paw and have a lick!  Side note: Bucephalus died in battle in that area and a town was later named after him.

Much of the Himalayan salt we purchase originates from an area of hills in Pakistan known as the “salt range” which is hundreds of miles away from the Himalayan Mountains.  The hills are a remnant of a lagoon that existed 600 million years ago.

This Himalayan salt does contain minerals, but only in very minute amounts.  Such minerals as magnesium, zinc, calcium and even iron.  Again, they contain only very minute amounts that would not be enough to consider as a supplement for your horse.

The fact that Himalayan salt is very hard, in chunk form, your horse would not be able to bite it.  Even with steady licking, they would not be able to consume the minimum needed on a daily basis especially in hot weather!  However, the salt chunk is resistant to rain so hanging it for your horse, in or out of the stall/barn area would be a great relief and/or distraction during a confinement situation.

The fact that it is salt, means that it does encourage your horse to drink more water.  This is always a good thing as approximately 70% the body is water and many body functions also require it!

There is one very important mineral that you cannot get from Himalayan salt though and that is iodine.  Iodine is necessary for healthy thyroid function.  The thyroid regulates hormones and is easily thrown out of balance by deficiency and/or toxins that are in many horse care products.   Granulated iodized white salt covers your bases on this one.  Or if you feed a kelp product your horse is probably already receiving their necessary amount of iodine.

While the benefits and popularity of the Himalayan salt make it seem terrific for your horse, the bottom line is… it is safe and ok for your horse.  It can even be included in the salt/mineral area of your track set up.  It would also be beneficial as a relief and distraction for a confined horse.
  
The big question you want to ask yourself is… are my horses getting their minimum daily requirements for salt?  The easiest way for them to get this is by providing a granulated salt, either in their feed or free choice in their living space as they generally cannot take in enough by licking a block.

Are you interested in more helpful information for caring for your horses?  Join the community I mentioned, The Hearts of Horses; Empowering Through Holistic Care and be sure to look through the GUIDE section at the top of the page for all kinds of helpful holistic care topics!
 
All the Best,
Marta

1 Comment

  1. Like to share your information on my CSHA REGION 2 HORSEMASTERSHIP PAGE

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Get Strong, Vibrant and Intentional

 
Do you ever hit that energy slump at 2:00 or 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon?  DO you lack the ambition to carry on throughout the day, like you feel there is nothing left in your tank and you're just running on fumes? 
  
That used to be me...Every. Single. Day.

It got so frustrating not being able to get done all the things I needed to each day.  It was the simple things too, like fixing supper for my family.  At the time, being a farrier for horses meant heavy lifting and hard, repetitive movements hour after hour and by 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon I was feeling wiped.  My arms felt heavy, I was dragging my feet and I was cranky and moody.  It didn't take much for me to snap at someone who tried to talk to me.

But then, I was given the opportunity to try a special juice for a 30 day period.  I purchased two bottles and proceeded to drink the juice daily.  Within the first week I felt better!  I had more energy, felt happier and enjoyed working into the afternoon.  On really busy days (trimming 8-10 horses) I would have some juice with lunch too.  I noticed it made me feel more full and focused!  As I went through the month drinking the juice, I felt strong, energized, grounded and able to happily go through my day.  It wasn't until the month was over, and the juice was gone, that within a couple of days I was feeling like my old, dragged out self.  I knew then that I needed to add this drink to my life. Permanently!

I've since learned to use this juice, along with other strategies, to benefit the wellness of my animals.  It is now my great joy in life to empower others to care for their animals in an holistic way in order to benefit them mentally, emotionally and physically.

Are you ready to live your best life with your animals?  
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