Horses require at least 10 grams of salt per day. During some seasons, horses tend to sweat more than usual and due to excessive sweating, they lose more minerals. Hence, they must get an extra boost of salt so that their body can regain all the extra minerals it has lost. Neglecting a horse’s salt intake can do a lot of damage to its health in the long run.
And so, we have curated a list of the 5 best salt and mineral blocks for horses to help you choose the right one for your equine.
Quick Picks
Listed below are the best options from the top 5 according to budget and preference. To read a more in-depth review of these products, scroll below.
Best Overall: REDMOND – Rock on a Rope Unrefined Salt Rock for Horses 3 to 5 lbs (3 Pack) has the best mineral balance and the Redmond Salt Rock can help nurse back severely mineral deficient horses. This product is also made accessible for ease. For more information, scroll below.
Runner Up: Tough-1 Himalayan Salt Block Horse Treat is second on the list because of its rough texture that makes the salt rock weather-resistant. The rope with this salt rock is also detachable and comes with a PVC brick holder.
Best Budget Option: Horsemen’s Pride Himalayan Salt Block on Rope for Horses is the best budget option because it is hard to break, contains important minerals, and comes with a rope. It might not be as high quality as Redmond but it is a pretty good option to consider on a budget.
Best Salt and Minerals for Horses
Listed below are 5 of the best salt blocks for horses, according to all sizes and price ranges. Most of the below-mentioned Himalayan Salt blocks for horses are suitable for other livestock animals as well.
1. REDMOND – Rock on a Rope Unrefined Salt Rock:
The Redmond Unrefined Salt Rock is a cult favorite. To make it more accessible and easier to handle, Redmond has launched a rope version. This version is the same as the original one, with the same equine electrolyte and natural minerals. The only difference is that this is travel-friendly and accessible for horse-owners and horses. It contains minerals like Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Sulpher, Copper, and Zinc.
Even if a horse is severely mineral deficient, it can be nursed back to health with this salt rock since it is very rich in minerals. This salt block is number one because it offers the finest quality and mineral percentage balance in the market.
2. Himalayan Rock Salt – Lick On A Rope for Horses:
The Himalayan Rock Salt is economical and long-lasting. It contains around 80+ trace minerals including Magnesium, Calcium, and Potassium. The package contains 2 blocks. The Himalayan Rock Salt comes with long and sturdy ropes which can bear up to 6lb weight. These rock salts weigh around 4-6lb. The Himalayan Rock Salt is second on this list because of the benefits considering the economical price tag.
Due to the rock salt’s hard texture, it is safe from dissolving in the rain, meaning you can tie it wherever it is the most accessible for your pets and not worry about moisture and rain ruining the salt.
3. Horsemen’s Pride Himalayan Salt Block on Rope for Horses:
The Horsemen’s Pride Himalayan Salt Block comes in two different sizes, with prices ranging from $7 to $9 and the largest size of 4.4 lbs. Like the other salt blocks mentioned up till now, this one also comes with a rope, to make the salt block more accessible.
You can also buy the brick size but since it is very big, it doesn’t come with a rope. The Horsemen’s Pride Himalayan Salt Block contains Iron, Potassium, and Magnesium which help in regaining electrolytes lost during the summer season.
These Himalayan Salt Blocks are very dense to prevent them from breaking, making the product long-lasting.
4. Glowyn Pink Himalayan Salt Lick:
The Glowyn Pink Himalayan Salt Lick is 100% natural, the company claims that it is mined in the Himalayan Mountains. This Salt Block is one of the best mineral salt blocks due to its purity. It contains 98% Sodium Chloride and 84 trace minerals. The Glowyn Pink Himalayan Salt Lick is also appropriate for deers.
This Salt block is weather-resistant and breakage-free due to its hard texture. It helps reduce anxiety in horses and slowly gets rid of nervous habits. It weighs between 2 – 3.3 lbs and each package contains 4 salt blocks.
Like the aforementioned salt blocks, this salt block also comes with a rope per block. The ropes make it very easy to move the blocks around with ease.
5. Tough-1 Rock Salt Block Horse Treat:
The last Salt Block on this list is the Tough-1 All-Natural Salt Block. It comes in two sizes of 2.2 lb and 4.4 lb with the price going up to $11. The All-Natural Himalayan Salt Block contains Potassium, Magnesium, and Iron, necessary nutrients for any livestock animals’ health.
This Salt Block comes with a detachable rope, allowing the pet owner to replace it with another rope. It also comes with a PVC salt-brick holder. The All-Natural Himalayan Rock Salt Block is weather-resistant because of its hard texture, which means that it is quite long-lasting.
Horse Salt and Mineral Blocks Buying Guide
It is necessary for a buyer to know what to look for when buying Salt Blocks. Below mentioned are some important things to keep in mind which will make the buying process easier and faster.
Horse Breed and Age
Not all horses will prefer the same brand, even if it is the most famous one. The type of Salt and mineral which is best for your horse can be determined by its breed and age. Every age will have different nutrient requirements.
Most companies have technologies that are advanced enough to predict what salt block will work best for what breed. Leave the salt block accessible to make sure your horse is getting its daily dose of nutrients. Also mix some sodium along with its food, just to be safe.
Type of Salt
The salt consumed by horses is less refined than cooking salt. The most famous kind of salt preferred for horses is the Himalayan Salt which is found in Pakistan. This salt is good for horses because it contains many minerals. It is also hard to break, which is important. At times horses may attempt to bite down on salt blocks. This may lead to overconsumption of salt and may lead to medical emergencies. Himalayan Salts help prevent any such accidents.
Another salt that is used for horses is the Redmond Salt, which is made of sea salt that contains minerals in it.
Seasonal Requirement
The horse’s requirement for salt blocks depends on the changes in seasons. Fall and summer are ideal for salt blocks. As the blocks are sturdy and hard to break, they can withstand rain. During winters, the blocks might be too cold and tough for the horse’s tongue to lick on. As an alternative, owners can feed their horses salt granules to fulfill their mineral requirements.
Mineral Content
When purchasing a salt, you need to keep an eye out for the mineral content as well. Thankfully, different types of mineral salt blocks are all of different colors. The salt you pick should be based on the mineral needs of your horse.
- White salt contains only salt.
- Blue salt contains salt, iodine, and cobalt.
- Pink salt contains salt, magnesium, potassium, iodine, calcium.
- Red salt contains iodine in a large percentage.
Even though Red salt blocks are available, they should be avoided due to their richness in iodine. Iodine in a large quantity isn’t healthy for horses and can damage their health. However, a concentrated amount of Iodine is good for horses.
Value For Money
Like any other purchase, you should make sure that the salt blocks that you are purchasing are worth your investment. Always buy from a trusted manufacturer, do your research and read reviews left by customers.
If the manufacturer has been in the business for a long time, that is even better. They have enough experience with the product they are selling. See if the quality and quantity of the salt block are in appropriate proportion.
FAQs Regarding Salt and Mineral Blocks for Horses
If you are new to horses and horse feed, it is normal for you to be confused about Salt Blocks and why horses need them. We have answered some of the most frequently asked questions below.
Salt and mineral blocks help horses meet the required amount of mineral intake recommended at their age. If horses aren’t provided with an extra source of mineral intake, there are high chances of them becoming mineral deficient which will have a major effect on their health. Salt and mineral blocks also make horses feel thirsty, which is how they drink water. Without salt, horses are at risk of dehydration, which of course affects their health. Salt and mineral blocks have plenty of health benefits.
Salt blocks are comparatively a better fit for a horse than mineral blocks because mineral blocks might not be able to provide a sufficient amount of minerals, as they are 90% salt and only 10% minerals. They fail to provide enough portion to horses because they have a smooth tongue. Salt blocks come in a variety of options and each option contains different percentages of different minerals. Undoubtedly salt blocks contain plenty of minerals and help meet the sufficient mineral requirement per day.
The most general approach to choosing a salt block for horses would be to pick a white salt block. They are rich in salt and an easy bet if you aren’t an expert in salt block shopping. As mentioned above, mineral blocks can’t help a horse meet its basic daily mineral requirement, hence, investing in a mineral block is a waste of money and effort.
To determine the best salt block for your horse, you must decide what minerals you want to provide your horse with. Color-coded salt blocks all contain different amounts of minerals as mentioned above. Other than salt blocks, we have established in this article that feeding loose grains of salt to horses with their food is a smart way to make sure their daily requirement for minerals is met because no salt block guarantees that they are.
Wild horses adapt to their environment and maintain their mineral intake through their surroundings. Their source for salt is different, Depending on where the wild horses are located. If they are located near the sea, they can lick any salty surface, since there is a generous amount of salt near the coastline. If the wild horses are located near more greenery then they make do by obtaining salt from plants, or they hunt for locations where there is an abundant amount of salt.
Conclusion
As we wrap up the article, it is worth mentioning that Redmond – Rock on a Rope Unrefined Salt Rock is the most recommended product on our list.
But one should not rely completely on the salt blocks to meet the equine’s mineral requirement. Feed your horses with extra salt grains through food. Achieving a balance between the two is of utmost importance.
