Salt and Five Element Types of Horses

1. SUPPLEMENTING with Salt for the Five Element Types
by Madalyn Ward, DVM.



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While almost every horse owner knows that salt is important part
of a healthy horse's diet, many are unaware of the multiple
beneficial effects salt has on the body. Paul Pitchford, in his
book "Healing With Whole Foods," lists an amazing number of
positive qualities:

1. Salt's primary action is cooling and a moderate amount is
beneficial to the kidneys. The moistening property of salt is
especially appropriate in the winter, when the body tends to dry
out.

2. Salt counteracts toxins in the body and can be used externally
as well for skin eruptions.

3. Salt directs the body's energy inward and downward which is
appropriate for fall and winter when the center of the body needs
to stay warm.

4. Salt strengthens digestion and can soften and remove abdominal
swellings and intestinal obstructions. This softening property
can also reduce hardened glands, muscles, and lymph nodes.

5. The alkalizing quality of salt helps balance the acid nature
of high protein and carbohydrate diets.

6. Whole sea salt is slightly grey colored and contains many
minerals. White salt and most commercially produced sea salt is
highly refined and devoid of minerals.

As Pitchford's list clearly demonstrates, salt is a highly
necessary supplement. It is also an essential nutrient for all
horses. Ideally unrefined sea salt, which is naturally balanced
with other minerals, should be offered free choice year round.
Unrefined sea salt offers a better choice than the more popular
but not balanced trace mineral blocks, which do provide salt but
are essentially no better than refined salt with added inorganic
minerals. Owners should be cautious about the amount of salt they
feed to horses with ulcers because salt increases the production
of hydrochloric acid in the body, an effect that aids digestion
but can irritate ulcers.

Along with the general guidelines given above for feeding salt,
horse owners should consider the horse's Five Element Personality
type when deciding how to feed salt. Each type needs a different
quality and quantity of salt.

<> FIRE <>
Fire horses tend to sweat more than the other types, and should
have salt along other electrolytes in their diet. Loose sea salt
provided free choice is adequate most of the time. Salt tends to
have an energetically grounding effect so I will often add
electrolytes to a Fire horse's feed horses during times of
stress. Some Fire horses will over eat salt if confined in a
stall, which could be in reaction to boredom or an effort to take
in the grounding effects of the salt.

<> EARTH <>
Earth horses have tendency toward dampness and fluid retention so
salt should be kept to a minimum. Even formulated rations with
added salt can be too much for some Earth horses, causing them to
stock up or retain fluid in their muscles. Use electrolytes very
sparingly when feeding these horses. Kelp can also be too salty
for some Earth horses, and fresh water alga are preferable. Loose
salt can be provided free choice, although even this option
should be limited if the horse shows signs of fluid retention.

<> METAL <>
Metal horses benefit from the moistening effects of natural sea
salt. For this reason I often supplement Metal horses with
electrolytes during extremely dry weather. I have found that many
Metal horses like the taste of salt and will relish salty treats
such as corn chips. If the skin of a Metal horse looks
excessively dry this could be a sign the horse is headed for
anhydrosis (inability to sweat) and a good quality electrolyte
should be added to the diet immediately.

<> WOOD <>
Wood horses can benefit from the detoxifying nature of sea salt
and I have used Epson salt soaks and poultices to relieve the
hoof abscesses that occur so frequently in Wood horses.
Salt-based solutions such a Draw make excellent body washes to
soften the muscles of Wood horses. In addition these solutions
can also be used on swollen lymph glands. I rarely feed
additional salt or electrolytes to Wood horses.

<> WATER <>
Water horses do benefit from many of the properties of salt. They
need the extra minerals in unrefined sea salt, and the grounding
energy serves them well. I prefer for them to get their salt and
other electrolytes from foods such as alfalfa, kelp, or fresh
water alga. Water horses will occasionally over eat salt, which
could be an effort to meet their mineral needs. Unfortunately,
they will often later drink excessive amounts of water and the
resulting excessive urination can quickly deplete the mineral
reserves in the body. If this happens it is important to run
blood tests to check for dehydration, and then gradually limit
both salt and water while supplementing the feed with a quality
electrolyte.


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