Salt licks for horses are an easy and convenient way to make sure your horse always has access to salt as it’s a really important part of his diet. They are also frequently used as part of some of the best stable toys to help prevent boredom.
Sodium is one of the main electrolytes that horses need and if their levels become low, their body will signal the horse to avoid drinking, which could lead to dehydration. Providing the right amount will help your horse’s body to function at its best – it works with chloride to aid nerve and muscle function – particularly at times of stress, such as during performance or hot weather. Some horses are good at regulating their salt intake and will only consume what their body needs, but others will over-consume or completely ignore their salt lick, so it’s wise to monitor your horse’s intake.
We’ve rounded up a great selection of licks on the market and grouped them into the following categories:
Provides pure natural rock salts, wrapped and complete with rope.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
NAF Himalayan Salt Lick
Sizes: 750g, 2kg, 4.25kg
Offers the purest form of salt, naturally mined to support your horse’s needs to instinctively self-supplement. Each salt lick is ready to hang and includes a rope.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Hilton Herbs Black Himalayan Salt Lick
Sizes: 1kg
A natural Ayurvedic product made by combining pink Himalayan salt with herbs and spices, including harad, which gives it a dark colour and sulphurous flavour. Its properties help support your horse with balanced digestion, healthy eyesight, and skin.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Likit Himalayan Rock Salt
Sizes: 1kg
100% natural himalayan rocksalt, specially shaped to be used in conjunction with the Likit holders or Boredom Breaker. Weather resistant and can be left with your horse to ‘self dose’.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Redpost Himalayan Salt Lick
Sizes: 1kg, 3kg
A pure and natural form of salt which is convenient for allowing your horse free access to self supplement, both in the field and stable. Available in two sizes to suit your horse’s needs.
Flavoured licks for horses
Flavoured licks are fun for owners and keep things interesting for horses. Many are compatible with the stable toys, which makes them ideal for keeping horses entertained while they’re inside.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Rockies Flavoured Health Lick
Flavours: Apple, carrot, cherry, garlic, or mint
Sizes: 2kg, 5kg
Unique flavouring, high purity minerals, and trace elements. This combination ensures that your horse will only consume as much as they need. For use all year round but especially during hotter months.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Likit Refill Flavoured Licks
Flavours: Wide choice
Sizes: 650g
These tasty licks are compatible with Likit holders and Boredom Breakers. Available in a huge variety of colours and flavours.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Horslyx Mini Licks
Flavours: Original, garlic, mint, pro digest, mobility or respiratory
Sizes: 650g
These licks can be held in your hand and are handy for distracting and practising stretches.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Little Likit Refill Flavoured Licks
Flavours: Wide choice
Sizes: 250g
These tasty licks are compatible with Likit holders and Boredom Breakers. Available in a huge variety of colours and flavours.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Bizzy Bites Lick Refill
Flavours: Original, garlic, mint or apple
Sizes: 1kg
To be used with the Bizzy Bites toy that can be hung, wall mounted or used on the floor.
Field licks for horses
Paddock licks typically contain more vitamins and minerals than a standard salt lick. They are a great way to ensure your horse is getting some extra nutrients, particularly if he doesn’t receive a hard feed. They are harder to monitor for intake, and if your horse shares a field there’s no way of knowing who is benefitting – apart from perhaps a telltale sticky muzzle.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
KM Elite Ultimate Oil Lick
Sizes: 7.5kg
This vitamin, mineral and trace element lick is designed to support your horses’ diet throughout the year.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Likit Paddock Lick
Sizes: 8kg
This lick offers a broad spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals, plus the added benefits of garlic, yeast and oils.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Dodson & Horrell Uniblock
Sizes: 12.5kg
This lick provides vitamins and minerals that are not always present in grazing.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
SmartLick Original
Sizes: 12.5kg
This lick contains a blend of essential vitamins and minerals, plus a yeast-based prebiotic to support beneficial intestinal bacteria.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Simple System Salt Lick Tub
Sizes: 10kg
This lick comes in a reusable flexible tub to provide sodium and a top up of magnesium.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Horslyx Original Balancer
Sizes: 5kg, 15kg
Horslyx Original Balancer is a palatable, nutrient rich lick containing vitamins, minerals and trace elements to balance the deficiencies in forage and grazing. Also available in respiratory, mobility, pro digest and garlic varieties.
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Saracen Pasture Lick
Sizes: 20kg
A highly palatable lick that is full of vitamins and minerals to help support your horse’s diet.
How to choose a salt lick
There are a few different types of salt to offer – the main ones are white, red or Himalayan.
White salt blocks contain sodium chloride and are a good place to start if you’ve not offered your horse a salt lick before. Red trace mineral blocks also contain copper, zinc, manganese, cobalt, iron and iodine – your horse might not need these, especially if he’s fed a complete feed or balanced diet, but he may prefer the taste and therefore it will encourage him to consume it.
Himalayan salt is sourced from the nutrient-rich water and soil found in the Himalayan mountains. This pink salt is high in calcium and may help to strengthen bones, joints, teeth and hooves.
Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoythe magazine deliveredto your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access ouronline servicethat brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.
TOPICS
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Franchesca is Horse & Hound’s Products Editor. She produces all of our buying guides and gift guides, as well as organising product testing and bringing you news about the latest products to hit the market. If there’s a new launch, Franchesca is the first person to hear about it. She brings you the best deals and is passionate about arming Horse & Hound’s readers with honest, unbiased product reviews. Franchesca loves letting riders and horse owners know what products are coming out, how to make their lives easier and how to spend their money wisely.
