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salt

Last post 09-28-2011 1:46 PM by 48northfarm. 4 replies.
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  • 09-14-2011 8:58 AM

    salt

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    My mares get free-choice loose salt which is in one of the pockets in their corner feed bins. The bars and trim of their stall walls is galvanized, which they all enjoy licking: they must like the zinc. Unfortunately, the mixture of salty tongues and galvanized metal results in oxidation (rust) all over the trim, and eventual collapse. The obvious solution is move the salt from the stall, but that would mean putting the salt outside where it would be rained on.

    Has anyone coped with this problem? Other than building a small roofed pedestal under which you could hang a bucket full of salt, does anyone have any other ideas? I'm certainly not the only one with this problem. And putting a salt block outside is not the answer I'd choose: I've read that horses don't get enough salt from a block, and that's why I feed loose salt.

    What do you do?
    Megan


    		"The horse you get off is not the horse you got on. It is your job as a rider to ensure that as often as possible, the change is for the better."

    Anonymous

  • 09-15-2011 7:16 AM In reply to

    Re: salt

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    I don't think the rusty bars are the result of salty tongues. Just where atmospheric moisture collects when it condenses and maybe some limited exposure to horse slobber. Saliva all by itself is caustic. I've had bars start to rust in stalls that were unoccupied for years. Occasional wire brushing and a fresh coat of some Rustoleum enamel paint will help preserve them. ~FH

    "Abuse is when a human action or reaction is obviously accompanied by anger, rage or adrenaline. Proper correction and reprimand are done in silence with thoughtful intent. Your horse knows the difference." ~FloridaHorseman

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  • 09-17-2011 10:39 AM In reply to

    Re: salt

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    Skip--
    I guess I wasn't too clear about what's going on with my stalls. It may not be salty tongues, but it IS the salt. The galvanized metal is okay everywhere except near the salt holders. Even the metal in the jennies' stall is corroded near the salt, and they can't even reach the metal. Juno's stall is the most corroded, even though all of the stalls have the salt in the same place, and I've seen Juno licking the bars frequently. Maybe her saliva adds to the corrosion created by the humidity and the salt.

    But, I do know how to get rid of the corrosion, though I'm not sure how to keep the salt dry if I put it outside. A friend said just to dump it on the ground and the horses will find it. However, eventually you'll wind up with nothing but salty mud. Would a horse eat that? I tried putting the salt in a plastic garbage can lid which was imbedded in the ground, but within a minute of me leaving the area Athene had it stomped on and flipped over. :) I've seen livestock mineral feeders, but they're too big and too expensive for my taste. 

    Has anyone seen a smaller mineral feeder? I also thought of using a bird bath to hold the loose salt, but Athene would probably tip that over, too. 

    ETA: Now I'm thinking of screwing a piece of plywood onto a few tree roots. The horses would still push the salt around on the plywood, but it'd be on the ground and I could re-fill it every time I see it empty.

    Any more ideas?
    Megan


    		"The horse you get off is not the horse you got on. It is your job as a rider to ensure that as often as possible, the change is for the better."

    Anonymous

  • 09-27-2011 10:34 PM In reply to

    Re: salt

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    Salt sure does get them slobbering! I feed it.

    I would abandon the feeder and put it in a small Fortiflex pan. I have one that's about 2' diameter with flared sides about 12" high. I just sprinkle a layer of salt on the bottom of it daily. It's not enough to dump on the ground. Mine are loose in the barn and nose it all over the place, but ok, so far. I have a small feed bin for the minerals that I attached 6" off the floor.  I was thinking of getting another one for the salt to put beside it, but found the price discouraging. 

    I think that a horse likes to get a mouthful with several licks and bring his head up and work on it. That's when the mess starts. I find that with my lowered feeder, the mess does not go up as high as the bars would be. It's in a nice little alcove right by the door, so not a place where they "go", so no gifts left behind for me yet. Maybe you could try a front corner of the stall? You can sprinkle it over their hay as well, if its situated differently vs. the bars and the grain feeder. Before the fortiflex pan, I just offered the salt to them from my supply from a margarine tub. Offered it until they didn't want anymore, then made them go take a drink. A few minutes and we're done. Sometimes, they didn't want any, so I guess that's still free choice, lol. 

    I like to do this on a daily basis because they seem to go for it, then go for the water. For the same reason that it can also be corrosive to the bars, I also worry about the teeth. I encourage them to drink and right away. Also, I wouldn't throw the salt on the ground, not very environmentally friendly. When I get back into  meals, the minerals will be balanced and I will be feeding that individually and probably the salt will go where the store bought minerals have been all summer.....maybe...

    And that's another thing that's been bugging me, about feeding minerals instead of free choice. I may try the new minerals free choice. What I've noticed, is that they lick and slide the minerals back in their mouths to swallow, they don't chew....it is stones after all, although sand-like. I'm hesitant to put it in their dinners and have them chewing on it with the rest of it. I'd rather they have the option of eating it the way they'd prefer to.....again with the teeth.

     Hope this helps with some ideas.  

  • 09-28-2011 1:46 PM In reply to

    Re: salt

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    My girls get their minerals/vitamins in feed. I feed LMF Super Supplement, a pelleted feed given once a day in 2 cup servings. It's meant to be fed to horses who eat hay grown in the Pacific Northwest. Are you on that side of Canada? It's very palatable: my girls gobble it up
    Megan


    		"The horse you get off is not the horse you got on. It is your job as a rider to ensure that as often as possible, the change is for the better."

    Anonymous

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