Mineral block for horses guides? What Causes Nutrient Deficiencies? Numerous factors increase a horse’s risk for nutrient deficiency. Let’s look at six of the most common. Caloric deficiency. Insufficient calorie intake, or not eating enough, is the most obvious way horses may become nutrient deficient. All-hay diet. Hay satisfies horses urge to chew and provides essential nutrients, but because it’s dried, even high-quality hay may not provide all the nutrients horses need. Deficient soil. Intensive farming practices have left many soils depleted of life-giving minerals and nutrients. That means crops grown in these soils, and which we feed our animals, are also deficient. Stall confinement. Many horses spend time in trailers, stalls, and paddocks. We limit horses’ access to sun exposure and diverse forage when we pull them from their natural habitat of pastures and prairies. Copious sweating. High-performance horses can lose up to 12 to 18 liters (3 to 4.75 gallons) of sweat with intense exercise.5 That sweat also contains critical nutrients and equine electrolytes. Pregnancy. Pregnant mares’ nutritional needs change during pregnancy, requiring more nutrients to support fetal growth.
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 even more info on salt lick for horses.
On the topic of safety, riding with friends is always a smart decision. Group riding is safer and often more fun. Your horse will also appreciate the company of a few extra friends on the trail. And speaking of trails… Keeping to marked, well-used paths is especially important. Avoid riding off-trail in wintertime, in secluded areas, or through heavy snow where hazards like limbs, rocks, or debris may be hidden. And remember, plodding through deep snow is strenuous for your horse. You want to avoid working her too hard or getting her too sweaty before heading back to the barn. Which leads us to cooling down.
Other benefits of Redmond Rock: Contains natural electrolytes that encourage horses to drink. Packed with 63 trace minerals to nourish horses. (See this table for a complete mineral analysis.) Our minerals are created by nature and come in the right balance horses need. Holds up better in wet weather than pressed blocks. In taste tests, horses prefer Redmond Rock to manmade blocks. We believe Redmond Rock is simply the best natural mineral lick available for horses. Over the last 20 years we’ve heard many horse owners express how our rock improves mineral balance, provides horses a natural trigger to drink, and combats dehydration and colic. Here is Becky Imbornoni’s story of using Redmond Rock to help a colicing horse.
What Makes A Horse Stop Drinking? Horses don’t like change. A new smell or taste, even switching from a familiar metal water container at home to a plastic bucket on the road can be off-putting to a picky drinker. Here are a few reasons horses may stop drinking water when away from home. Rein Water is simple and natural. It includes Redmond salt, Redmond clay, and essential trace minerals and electrolytes horses need to stay hydrated. It also alkalizes and masks the taste of unfamiliar water, and horses love the flavor! Decrease your worries over dehydration and keep your horse drinking at home and on the road. Click the button below to learn more about Rein Water. Read additional information on Dehydrated horse.
