02/01/2026
Have you ever been overwhelmed by a wide assortment of different salt lick colours? What does each colour mean? Which one is best for your horse?
Here is a quick summary of the common salt block types:
🤍 White - Sodium Chloride (NaCl), might also contain small quantities of iodine
🤎 Brown/Red - Contains several different minerals such as iron, zinc, copper, and selenium – often in very low quantities
💙 Blue - Contains cobalt
🩷 Pink/Himalayan - Contains iron and small quantities of trace minerals
It is important to note the quantities of each mineral differs based on the brand of salt lick.
It is not recommended to rely on a salt lick to meet any nutrient requirements, however, it is recommended that horses always have free choice access to salt in addition to their balanced diet.
🐎 It is a common myth that horses will seek out minerals that they are deficient in. The only nutrient your horse will actively seek out is salt. For example, they will not select brown salt over white salt if they are deficient in selenium or other trace minerals.
🧂Some horses utilize salt licks more than others. We recommend you incorporate loose salt in your horse’s ration to meet their sodium and chloride requirements, and a salt lick as additional supplementation.
A white salt lick works well for most horses, however anecdotally I have observed that some prefer the Himalayan salt licks.
If your horse is an avid salt lick user, it is recommended to opt for a white salt block to ensure toxicity issues are not a risk with cobalt or selenium intake.
Read more here: https://balancedbaynutrition.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-salt-licks/
📩 Interested in having your horse's diet reviewed to ensure it is balanced? Contact us today!
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