26/05/2026
The Importance of Salt in hot weather.
The Internet is currently full of novel ways to keep our animals hydrated and cool; from fruit in ice blocks to paddling pools in paddocks! One absolutely crucial element of hydration that can often be forgotten is salt.
Salt - Sodium Chloride is a vital electrolyte that helps to maintain optimum pH levels in the horses body. Sodium levels are actually measured by the brain, which, given sufficient sodium, signals the horse to drink. It seems counter intuitive but if sodium blood concentration is low, their signal to drink water will be greatly diminished so as not to over dilute the sodium balance in bodily fluids.
Salt is a mineral crucial to equine and human wellness alike; it is vital for healthy functioning of ours and our horses' nervous system, muscle function, hydration, overall health of intestines, digestion and heart function.
During this glorious hot spell our rescues have been sweating a lot, especially the natives. Not so much the Arabs who are designed for this weather, but they still need free access to salt. It is vital we provide free choice salt for all of our rescues as they are not able to leave the premises to find deposits like their wild counterparts would.
In the wild horses, like elephants, will travel to naturally occurring known salt deposits on rocks and sediment. Those in coastal areas benefit from plant life containing more salt.
Salt deficiency in horses can present as lethargy, dehydration, muscle spasms, decreased appetite, dull coat, decreased sweating.
Salt licks do not provide enough in hot weather; a horse's tongue is not raspy enough to get enough off a lick. So outside we offer buckets with salt soup for them to self select. Basically enough water to make it gloopy meaning it doesn't blow away in the wind. Inside we offer bowls of just dry salt as you can see below with Zeddy. This morning it was Bruno and Zeddy who licked the bowls clean and wanted more. Bruno is a Cleveland Bay/Cob and our biggest resident and has definitely been sweating the most in this weather.
At the sanctuary we only use good quality sea salt and sometimes Celtic salt when it's on offer. Mediterranean sea salt is not expensive if bought in bulk from wholesalers. A 10kg bag is about £8. Table salt is heavily processed resulting in all the beneficial minerals being stripped away and is not recommended to give to horses or indeed humans.
So don't forget your horse's salt in this lovely weather.❤️🐎
