Himalayan salt has a major part of sodium and chloride, required for important functions in horses. When dissolved in the bloodstream, these two minerals become ionized and are integral to electrical signals and communication throughout the body. This communication is vital for nervous system coordination and musculoskeletal coordination to function effectively in racing.

Sodium is also involved in moving glucose across the cell membrane where it is used as a fuel source. If sodium is insufficient at the cellular level glucose transport in the tissues is impaired. Ultimately this translates into ill health and may present as early fatigue, muscle weaknesses and impaired performance. Less recognized benefits of adequate salt are an aid in blood sugar regulation, hormone balance, maintenance of healthy weight, the health of hooves and hair coat, pH balance of the body and its function as a natural antihistamine.

Sodium has the ability to hold water in the tissues and thus its presence has a major influence on hydration and fluid dynamics in the body. Insufficient sodium inevitably leads to a degree of dehydration. This function of sodium is so important to the body that the sodium levels are “read” by the brain in determining when to trigger thirst.

Salt insufficiency generally develops over a period of weeks or months and clinical signs of minor deficiencies are generally non-specific and subtle. Fortunately, the behavior of the horses themselves provides a valuable clue regarding their salt requirement. Horses lacking salt often develop an abnormal appetite, also known as “pica” and lick objects that may have traces of salt on them. These can include but are not limited to wood, metal, stones, fences, bark, hands, vehicles, and soil. Although the occurrence of pica does not necessarily indicate a salt deficiency, it does warrant a check for the availability of a sufficient salt source. A decrease in water intake often accompanies a salt deficiency as the body attempts to preserve what salt it does have. The dehydration closely associated with salt deficiency places such horses at a greater risk for colic.

An average-size horse of 450 kg (1,000 pounds) needs roughly two level tablespoons or one ounce of salt per day to meet its requirement for sodium and chloride. The demand for salt will flux daily and can double and even triple when workload and/or hot and humid environments increase sweat losses.

Providing salt for horses can mean simply tossing out a salt block. As convenient and economical as this common practice is, we feel that if that is going to be done, give them the best. Give them Himalayan Pearl.

One way to improve the availability of salt for the horse is to provide a source of natural salt. It has been my experience that horses offered a source of natural salt will increase their consumption of salt, considerably so at times. The fissures and variations in densities and textures inherent to the mined “rocks” create a “softer” lick for the horse, thus increasing their availability for salt.

Providing horses with a loose granular or free-flowing form of salt has also been shown to increase both their salt and water consumption. In order to minimize wastage while providing this form of salt, it is necessary to utilize covered mineral feeders or secure buckets with the loose granulated salt in protected shelters.

Horses appear to have an innate intelligence when meeting their salt requirements and they also appear to have a preference regarding the quality of salt offered to them. Whenever the salt source is well received by the horse the horse’s own intake will naturally wax and wane as it is continually meeting its own salt equilibrium.

Himalayan salt has a pivotal role in the coordinating nervous system and glucose transportation across plasma membranes. These electrolytesplay part in determining the relative acidity of cellular fluids and intracellular and extracellular fluids and also involved in pH maintenance and fluid regulation.