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I am a Freak
Posts: 3326
   
Location: Nowhere Special | Now had someone asked me this I would say NO, they will self regulate and never thought anything else of it. But this gelding I have is consuming mineral blocks like they are going out of style! It concerns me that he could possibily be getting to much and if hes not at what point will he ever "get enough"?
He came to me in severe state of neglect, So much so to effect his red blood count. This was roughly 60 days ago. Since he has put on a TON of weight, he is being fed like an elephant. He is also on a high dollar blood builder and misc other supplements as well as the regular process of feeding up a starved animal.
However he has consumed 2 trace mineral blocks (red ones), 3 of the soft (25 pound) mineral block things from tractor supply in 60 days. He also has a white salt block, and a mineral tubb that he has not even hardly touched, a hymilayin salt lick that he uses on occasion.. So its only the trace mineral blocks that he in inhaling!! Do I just keep letting him have them and hope he will eventually slow down and get what he needs? Or could he possibily be getting just to much? (he also has free choice hay so I don't think hes eating them to stay full) |
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | As long has he has plenty of forage and is not in a dry lot, he will stop when he gets enough. I say this because I have seen horses in a dry lot with not enough forage/things to do to keep busy - eat them for lack of anything else to do. Otherwise, once they get enough, they back down. |
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  The Color Specialist
Posts: 7530
Location: Washington. (The DRY side.) | YEs, they CAN over do salt and minerals. (Both salt and some minerals can cause HARM if they eat too much.)
For one, I would use LOOSE salt and minerals instead of blocks. If that doesn't stop the crazy abuse of salt and minerals, I would feed them to him rather than giving it free choice. |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | RacingQH - 2015-03-07 2:36 PM YEs, they CAN over do salt and minerals. (Both salt and some minerals can cause HARM if they eat too much.)
For one, I would use LOOSE salt and minerals instead of blocks. If that doesn't stop the crazy abuse of salt and minerals, I would feed them to him rather than giving it free choice.
I agree with this. He should be getting what he needs with all the supplements you say he has, the mineral tub and any grain you may be feeding. |
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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | I want to ask if the mineral blocks have molasses in them? With my horses if the mineral block has molasses, it doesn't even last a day. I could put a new one out every day and it would be gone...they take bites out of it...thus teaching me to buy mineral blocks without molasses. They use those ones as needed. LOL. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | absolutely.. and some will not stop.. your overdoing it alot. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Even a lot of the loose mineral has filler product in them.
The filler product generally is a starch ie oat by product, which tastes like candy to a horse.
I notice a significant longevity difference of mineral without any filler compared to mineral with filler. As in 2:1
I won't feed my horses blocks as most are compressed together with molasses, not will I use tubs for the same reason.
I also don't give a mineral with salt in it, I give loose salt in a different tub
If there is no filler, horses will regulate themselves.
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The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | cheryl makofka - 2015-03-07 5:02 PM
Even a lot of the loose mineral has filler product in them.
The filler product generally is a starch ie oat by product, which tastes like candy to a horse.
I notice a significant longevity difference of mineral without any filler compared to mineral with filler. As in 2:1
I won't feed my horses blocks as most are compressed together with molasses, not will I use tubs for the same reason.
I also don't give a mineral with salt in it, I give loose salt in a different tub
If there is no filler, horses will regulate themselves.
I agree. Those with molasses and apple flavorings cannot be resisted! |
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I am a Freak
Posts: 3326
Location: Nowhere Special | No the trace mineral block is just the big old red salt block.. he has a mineral tub with molassis in it but refuses to touch that one. |
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Location: on a hill | Yes they can get salt toxicosis. Rare but not unheard of. My vet yelled at me because he seen my one pony chewing chunks off the red block and eating them. I would definitely cut back on how many he consumes. Eating that much salt i hope he's drinking tons of water. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 762
Location: NC | my gelding can not have a salt/mineral block or even a red rock salt lick.. he will sit there and lick it till its gone. Therefore he doesnt get one. he gets salt in his food and thats it. My mare will only touch hers when she feels she needs it on the other hand |
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