Salt Lick

Is it really necessary to have one? I have a mineral block that has some salt in for him so he gets some then, but my mom thinks that because he loves to lick my hands, my face, and just me in general that he is wanting the salt. Now I've known lots of horses do lick people, but don't need salt...but I thought I'd just ask.

If it matters, he's an easy keeper, get's really only hay, and an occasional scoop of grain if he does good that day when I ride him. He has a 50 lb mineral block in his run-in-shed that he has access to all the time.

He's a cuddle-bug so I've always just associated his licking with that, but I thought I might as well check haha

I always offer my horses white salt blocks and trace minerals. I used to use the brown mineral salt block and they didn't seem to be getting enough.

I offer the brown and the white, and the brown seems to go faster, but I still offer both, I buy the small like sample sized ones and stick them in his grain bin. He licks my hands nonstop even though I give him the salt blocks so it may just be one of his traits.

that's what I was thinking.
What is the purpose for salt for them anyways? I know it makes them thirsty...is it just to get them to drink? Cause he does drink alot already.
He does is constantly...he'll do it to my hands (with gloves on or without gloves on) to my coat, jeans, face, back, and part really

My horse doesn't lick my gloves or anything hehe, maybe your horse IS a lovebug. I have no idea why, I just offer them because my mom said you're supposed to. My horse liked them so I gave him some.

You don't have to have a salt lick.

he is a bug love bug haha he's sooo funny sometimes. I have a favorite horse that belongs to the barn owner (Sonny, of course, is my favorite, but that horse is my second favorite) and I'll go over after I'm done lungeing Sonny and I'll go in the mares stall, talk to her pet her and give her some loving. And Sonny will be looking at me with his head to one side, his ears back, and just stands there until I come over to him.

Kk, thanks Delete. I didn't think I did, but just wanted to check to make sure.

FWIW, I've allways used the brown mineral block and just sit it out next to the water trough. Seems to work fine for me and mine but if the truth was known...... it probably don't make much difference which one ya use.
Neither will make up for a loss of minerals in their diet and if you are using a feed which contains a good vitamin/mineral package, you realy only need to offer the extra salt....which either would provide anyway.

DGW

This seems to be a very general statement... Yes, perhaps some horses' diets, exercise routines, etc. are such that supplementing with a salt block isn't necessary, but I wouldn't say that this is the case with every horse. I don't see the harm in offering salt. If the horse needs it, he will use it and if he doesn't, what's the harm in having it there?

Some info I found doing a quick internet search:
http://www.saltinstitute.org/47i.html
http://www.horsefeeds.co.uk/traceelements.html

I buy the mineral block with added salt and my ponies love it! It's like a treat for them.