How Much Salt Does your Horse Need?

Horse Sculpture crafted by Tunisian Salt workers in the Sahara
Horse Sculpture crafted by Tunisian Salt workers in the Sahara

How much salt should your horse get on a daily basis? Certainly, it’s more than I thought.

Researchers in Michigan measured the daily salt consumption of 12 horses during the hottest months of the year from the beginning of May to the end of August. Salt consumption averaged 0.64 ounces per horse in May and rose each month to a high of 3.18 ounces per horse in August.

Think about it: a cup of Diamond Crystal salt weighs about 8 ounces. That means that these horses were eating almost a half a cup of salt per day. Keep in mind that a cup of Kosher salt only weighs about 5 ounces, so if you are inclined in that direction, you’re looking at even more volume.

Better make sure those horses have access to a lot of fresh water!

2 thoughts on “How Much Salt Does your Horse Need?

  1. That’s alot of salt. We just leave the big salt blocks in their paddocks and stalls, they are all doing fine, so I guess they must be getting enough.
    Cool Sculpture.

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