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  Discussion on Free choice loose minerals -- too much?
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Posted on Thursday, May 3, 2001 - 9:54 am:

I have seen some references on this site to horses developing a taste for a salt/trace mineral block, and possibly consuming too much of it. My vet suggested feeding a loose mineral supplement free choice (separately from white salt) because my horse's muscles were turning sore and unable to relax. She told me that a horse will eat only as much of a free choice mineral supplement as it needs. Well, I put two and a half pounds of ABC's Rush Creek mineral supplement into a bucket in my horse's stall and she ate it all in 36 hours. This alarmed me. The stuff isn't flavored or anything . . . so my question is, should I really assume that she needed that many minerals, or is it possible for a horse to have a taste for minerals separately from salt? She's also getting a selenium supplement (our local hay is deficient) and I am worried about toxicity. Thanks for any input!

Posted on Friday, May 4, 2001 - 7:27 am:

This is a occasional problem in horses that we do not understand: the horse that will sit and eat lbs of salt a day. No there is no chance your horse needs this much salt and it is possible to induce salt poisoning and certainly if there is selenium in this supplement you should worry about toxicity from that. You should do what we recommend in the article where we discuss this problem: Care for Horses: Nutrition: Water, Electrolytes, and Riding in the Heat.
DrO

Posted on Friday, May 4, 2001 - 9:16 am:

Thanks Dr. O -- but my question was whether the same problem can arise with minerals (my horse does not gorge on her salt). Don't worry, I did read the article first, and all of the discussions that I found on the topic. I try hard to make sure that I don't waste more of your time than my subscription price allows!

Lisa

Posted on Friday, May 4, 2001 - 10:38 am:

I am sorry I thought I was clear that yes minerals, particularly Selenium, can be fed in toxic amounts. Clinical signs and diagnosis of these toxicities are covered in the article on Minerals in the Diet.
DrO

Posted on Friday, May 4, 2001 - 10:58 am:

No, I apologize: you were clear about that, as were the articles. I did understand that minerals can be "fed" in toxic amounts, I just wasn't sure whether a horse would voluntarily eat toxic amounts of minerals when they are offered free choice. I think that it was obvious to you that the "gorging" possibility applies to minerals as well as to salts, when I thought that there might be a difference.

In fact, my vet has told me that a horse will not overeat free choice minerals -- but I am skeptical and that is why I checked here. I always come here when I want hard science answers.

Lisa
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