Horse salt lick tricks and high quality online shopping? According to the Merck Vet Manual, horses most often become deficient in these 12 essential minerals and vitamins. Also listed are the symptoms horses may exhibit when deficient in each. Salt: Deficiency may cause pica, weight loss, tiring easily, dehydration, and muscle spasms. Phosphorous: Deficiency may cause pica, muscle weakness, and trembling. Potassium: Deficiency may cause muscle weakness, fatigue, and exercise intolerance. Magnesium: Deficiency may cause nervousness, excitability, or muscle tremors. Zinc: Deficiency may cause low insulin, insulin resistance, dull coat, poor hoof, or bone diseases. Iron: Deficiency may cause anemia.
What are Equine Electrolytes? According to this article in Scientific American, electrolytes are chemicals that, when dissolved in water, produce ions with an electrical charge. “These ions have either a positive or negative electrical charge, which is why we refer to these compounds as electro-lytes. In the world of nutrition, we use the word “electrolyte” more specifically to refer to minerals dissolved in the body’s fluids, creating electrically charged ions.” Discover additional details at feeding fresh garlic to horses.
Speaking of staying warm, it’s vital to warm up your horse slowly in cold temperatures. Like us, a horse’s muscles, bones, and joints become stiff in cold weather and grow more flexible with gradual activity. So walk your horse a minimum of ten minutes before moving her into a trot, and consider using a half sheet or exercise sheet during warm-up. Your horse will also thank you for warming her bit before fitting it in her mouth. A cold bit is a quick way to start your ride off on the wrong foot. Which leads us to hoof safety.
Salt and mineral blocks are heat-pressed, manmade licks. Most contain around 90% salt, with 6 to 8 trace minerals added in. So why is a manmade block an inferior choice as a horse salt and mineral supplement? Pressed blocks only contain a fraction (6 to 8) of the full spectrum of trace minerals horses need for optimum health. Horses often resort to chewing blocks to get more mineral quantity. Some contain unnecessary fillers or dyes (like those blue horse blocks). Many contain sweeteners to improve palatability and entice licking. Pressed blocks dissolve quickly in humidity or wet weather.
Keep tubs clean. Horses want fresh, clean water. Clear your horse’s water container of debris and change water frequently. If you’re using a bucket, rinse and wipe it out daily. Troughs and large containers should be cleaned weekly with a bristle brush to clear algae and contaminants. We realize a horse that’s not drinking is an immense concern. That’s why we created Redmond Rein Water. It’s an all-natural equine electrolyte drink mix that stirs easily into a water bucket and appeals to horses’ taste for salt. See even more information at best garlic supplement for horses.