Himalayan Rope Salt Block

A natural Himalayan rope salt block is a clean, hardy way to give horses and other livestock free-choice access to salt and a handful of naturally occurring trace minerals. Unlike a pressed white-salt block, Himalayan rock salt carries small amounts of iron, magnesium, potassium, and calcium along with its sodium and chloride, which is why so many horse owners prefer it for pleasure and performance animals. The rock-salt form also weather-hardens instead of dissolving quickly, so it holds up far better in the open than a compressed block, an advantage that matters in the heat and afternoon rain of North Central Florida.

The rope makes it easy to hang in a stall, on a paddock rail, or under a run-in shed, keeping the block up off the wet ground where it would otherwise melt away. For a single horse, a three to four pound Himalayan block typically lasts somewhere between six and ten weeks here in our climate. Heavy summer sweating shortens that window, and a block sitting in a low, wet spot will go faster, so a covered spot or a simple holder stretches its life and your money.

For the plain sodium and chloride portion, ordinary white salt does the same job, so the reason to choose Himalayan is the added trace minerals and the weather resistance, not magic. It is safe for a mixed pasture too, working for cattle, goats, and sheep right alongside your horses. The one time to reach for a species-specific block instead is when an animal needs added selenium or copper at levels that would not suit every animal sharing the pasture. If you would like help deciding between a Himalayan block, a trace-mineral brick, or a loose mineral, call our family-owned Williston store at (352) 528-1255 and we will match it to the hay you feed.