by Jen Roytz

We’ve all heard the saying “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink.” Horses have to be thirsty in order to consume water, and the lynchpin in that scenario is salt.

Dehydration in horses–or any animal–can quickly escalate from mild to catastrophic. Their internal environment is water-based, and salt is the driving force behind the regulation and distribution of water in and out of cells.

“Salt is 39% sodium and 61% chloride. When consumed, salt will split in the body into the separate minerals to be used independently (as electrolytes),” said Dr. Kathleen Crandell, PhD, a nutritionist with Kentucky Equine Research (KER). “Both these minerals have independent roles in the body, but mainly they work together balancing fluid movement in and out of the cells and acid-base balance, as well as electrical impulse conduction in nerves and muscles. Further, sodium is needed for transport of substances across cell membranes, like glucose.”

The more a horse exercises and sweats, the more water they need to consume to prevent dehydration, and as such the more salt they require in their diet. While forage, grass and concentrated feeds contain salt, it is not enough to adequately meet a horse’s dietary needs, especially a high-performance equine athlete, such as a racehorse, making proper salt supplementation key.

Read more: Horse Health: You Can Lead a Horse to Water…

A Kansas State University associate professor and a Toklat and Myler bit expert outline warning signs for horse owners.

While enjoying a ride with your best horse, she throws her head in frustration and pins her ears. You chalk it up as an off day, one of many as of late, but it could be much more than that. “It is important to understand what the bit is doing and what to watch for,” cautions Chris Blevins, MS, DVM, Associate Professor, Equine Field Service with Kansas State University. “It is our responsibility to keep our horses comfortable.”

If your horse is experiencing bit pain and discomfort, you may notice signs of bit resistance.

There are several signs of bit resistance,” says Judy Auble, with Toklat and Myler bits. “The best way to determine whether your horse needs a new bit is to pay attention to how your horse reacts to your rein action and rein pressure.”

Could it be time to change bits? Watch for these warning signs:

• Inverting, when horses ride with their muzzles held high
• Riding behind the vertical, as horses tuck their nose into the chest
• Gaping, when horses drop their jaws behind the vertical, relieving tongue pressure
• Running through the bit or being heavy on the bit
• Riding with their tongue out of the mouth
• Consistent throwing of head and pinning of ears

Read more: Is it Time to Change Bits?