For many horse owners, salt and electrolytes get lumped into the same category. They’re both “salts,” they both help with hydration, and horses need them daily… right?
Well, yes — but they are not the same thing.
And knowing the difference can dramatically improve your horse’s hydration, performance, and recovery.
Let’s break it down simply.
Salt: The Everyday Essential
Salt = sodium + chloride.
That’s it. Two minerals.
Salt is essential every single day because:
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Horses don’t get enough from pasture or feed alone
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It encourages natural drinking
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It maintains basic hydration
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It replaces everyday mineral losses
Most horses need 10–25 g of loose salt per day (or more in hot climates).
But here’s the catch…
Salt only replaces TWO electrolytes.
Sweat contains five.
So while salt is great for day-to-day maintenance, it does NOT replenish the full mineral losses created by exercise, travel, heat, or stress.
Electrolytes: The Performance Replenishers
Electrolytes are a blend of:
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Sodium
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Chloride
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Potassium
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Magnesium
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Sometimes calcium
These are the minerals horses lose in large amounts through sweat.
During intense work or hot weather, horses can lose up to:
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12–15 L of sweat per hour
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With that, a huge drop in sodium, potassium & chloride
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Plus depletion of magnesium — crucial for muscle function
Salt cannot replace those levels on its own.
That’s why electrolyte supplements exist.
They provide a complete, rapid replacement of what’s actually lost.
When Salt Is Enough
✔️ Cool weather
✔️ Light work
✔️ Maintenance horses
✔️ Everyday hydration
Salt should be a daily essential, even when horses are not sweating.
When Electrolytes Are Necessary
✔️ Hot or humid weather
✔️ Horses sweating heavily
✔️ Travel days
✔️ Intense training, jumping or galloping
✔️ Competition
✔️ Stressy horses that stop eating/drinking
✔️ Horses prone to tying up or muscle fatigue
During these periods, electrolytes prevent:
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Dehydration
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Muscle cramps or tying-up
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Lethargy
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Slow recovery
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Loss of appetite
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Reduced performance
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Stress dehydration
Why Electrolyte-B Paste Does More Than Standard Electrolytes
Most electrolyte pastes only replace minerals.
EquaCare Electrolyte-B Paste replaces minerals and supports:
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Energy production
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Appetite
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Focus
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Stress resilience
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Recovery
Thanks to a powerful dose of B vitamins, especially B3 (niacin), it supports the horses who need more than just hydration.
It’s ideal for horses who:
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Sweat heavily
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Travel long distances
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Get stressy
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Lose appetite at competitions
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Need fast hydration + energy in one hit
So, What Should You Feed?
Daily:
Loose Salt — maintains hydration and drinking.
During Work/Heat/Stress:
Electrolytes — replace ALL minerals lost through sweat.
For Horses That Need an Extra Edge:
Electrolyte-B Paste — minerals + B vitamins for performance, energy & appetite.
It’s not salt or electrolytes.
It’s salt and electrolytes — each doing a different job.
SHOP ELECTROLYTES
