Study: Horses may not consume enough salt, even with free-choice access

A new Colorado State University study provides experimental data finding that nine of the 16 horses studied failed to voluntarily consume enough salt to meet recommended sodium requirements. More than half of the horses in the study voluntarily consumed less salt than recommended.

Individual horse preferences had a much greater influence on consumption than the form in which the salt was offered.

Source: Paulick Report, July 17, 2026. Link.

Horse owners cannot assume their horses will consume enough salt simply because it is available free-choice.”

Image: Link.