Science Supplements SafeSalt for Horses

What is it?

Exactly as the name suggests: Salt that is safe for your horse and their stomach. A unique electrolyte (NaCl; sodium and chloride) to overcome problems with palatability, gastric upset and gastric ulceration. Individual grains of salt coated in special oil which will not dissolve in the mouth or stomach. The oil coating dissolves in the small intestine where electrolyte uptake is optimal and gentle on the stomach unlike ordinary electrolytes.

Whilst salt and electrolytes can be added to the feed, horses often find these unpalatable and their granular nature means that it is easy for fussy horses to leave them at the bottom of the feed manger. There is also evidence that ordinary salt can cause or worsen gastric ulcers in horses. SafeSalt is a unique formulation that provides a palatable source of sodium and chloride and helps overcome these potential palatability problems.

What’s in it?

Salt (sodium chloride, chemical formula NaCl) is a key nutrient required for nerve and muscle function, maintenance of normal hydration and digestive, kidney, lung and heart function. Forage is rich in potassium and chloride and in some cases calcium (e.g. alfalfa) but most horses need supplemental salt (Na) in their diet. Horses in work, competing and racing require extra electrolytes to replace those lost in sweat, faeces and urine and sub-optimal electrolyte intake can result in poor performance as it is not possible to obtain sufficient electrolytes from forage or hard feed alone.

We use encapsulated Sodium Chloride to improve palatability, and prevent irritation of the stomach. The encapsulation agent is a type of oil. This oil is broken down by the natural digestive process in the small intestine, which allows for normal absorption of the electrolytes.

Activity level is the key influence of the sodium requirements of a horse, and to a lesser extent, whether the horse is growing, pregnant or lactating. Activity level has such a big influence because it results in the horse sweating, whereby the horse will lose both sodium and chloride alongside three other electrolytes. The variation in salt requirements range from around 5g daily for a 500kg horse at rest on a hay diet, to upwards of 50g daily for a horse in hard work which sweats regularly. This would be even higher if the horse was working hard in hot or humid conditions.

Ingredients & Feeding guide

Level 25ml (28g) scoops per day

Maintenance / Light

• Pony - approximately 250kg | 1/2 Scoop
• Horse - approximately 500kg | 1 Scoop
• Large Horse - over 750kg | 1 1/2 Scoops

Moderate

• Pony - approximately 250kg | 1 Scoop
• Horse - approximately 500kg | 1 1/2 Scoops
• Large Horse - over 750kg | 2 Scoops

Hard / Hot Weather

• Pony - approximately 250kg | 2 Scoops
• Horse - approximately 500kg | 3 - 4 Scoops
• Large Horse - over 750kg | 4 - 5 Scoops

Mix thoroughly with feed and split between meals where possible.

Do not exceed the recommended intake.

One of our core values is transparency. That’s why we list all the active ingredients per daily feeding rate so you know exactly what your horse is getting.

Active Ingredients: 80% salt (NaCl) by weight. Each 28g (1 level 25ml scoop) of SafeSalt provides: 9.0g of sodium (Na); 13.4g of chloride (Cl), equivalent to 22.4g sodium chloride (NaCl)

Analytical Constituents: Crude Ash 78.6%, Crude Oils & Fats 6.3%, Crude Protein <1%, Crude Fibre <1%, Sodium 73.2%, Moisture <1%

Composition: Sodium chloride, oil, flavour

Additives (per kg of finished product): Mint flavour

Store below 25°C out of direct sunlight.