What is “Black Salt” and should we use it?
By Annie Emery
Every so often, something pops up in horse circles that makes you tilt your head and say… huh. Recently, I saw a lot of ads claiming black salt is the best thing for your horse….
Since I've literally never heard of it….Let’s take a closer look at what it is, what it isn’t, and whether it has any place in your feed room, so when you see a flashy ad on social media, you know how to put this in context.
What Is Black Salt?
Black salt, or Kala Namak, comes from the Himalayan region and is processed using traditional Ayurvedic methods. In people, it’s sometimes used in cooking (think smoky-sulfur flavor) or as a digestive remedy. Some horse companies package it for horses, claiming it helps with digestion, bowel health, and skin and coat health.
What Does the Research Say?
Here’s the short answer: nothing.
There’s no published equine research on black salt. No controlled trials, no NRC references, no comparative data against plain white salt or Himalayan blocks. What we do know is that all horses need sodium and chloride — the basics in salt. That’s non-negotiable. The rest of the claims (soothing bowel, better coat, itch relief) fall into the “traditional use” or “anecdote” category.
What It Actually Provides
A pinch of Global Herbs BlackSalt (about 2 grams) is the recommended serving for a 500-kg horse. That’s… almost nothing in terms of meeting sodium requirements. For context:
A 500-kg horse in light work needs roughly 2 tablespoons of plain salt per day to cover sodium and chloride losses.
BlackSalt at 2 grams daily? That’s not even CLOSE to what your horse needs.
So it’s not really functioning as your horse’s salt source….does it do more? possibly, hard to say.
The Skin & Coat Claims
Some users report their horses’ coats look shinier or their itchiness improves on black salt. Could it be the salt? Maybe. Could it be a coincidence, seasonal changes, or just better management at the same time? Also maybe. Without research, we just can’t separate marketing from mechanism.
Should You Feed It?
Your call, but neither will I say it’s safe- that’s a question for your veterinarian. I don’t plan to use black salt.
