VOLUNTARY SALT (NACL) INTAKE IN STANDARD-BRED HORSES

The voluntary salt (NaCl) intake from individual salt blocks was inves tigated during two different feeding regimes. Eight Standardbred geldi ngs (5-10 years) were fed either two times per day or six times per da y for 25 days in a change over design. The salt intake was measured da ily by weighing the salt blocks. The horses performed intensive exerci se (interval training) or were transported to a track to perform a sim ulated 2140 m trotting race (11-12.5 m/s) almost every seventh day. Th e total salt intake in these horses was 19+/-8 g when fed two times pe r day and 14+/-5 g when fed six times per day. There were no increase in salt intake in connection with exercise. The amount of salt ingeste d did not even cover the estimated maintenance requirement and shows t hat the voluntary intake of salt from salt blocks is not a reliable ro ute to compensate for salt losses in the exercising horse.