Horse Block Lick Horses that are active (such as racehorses, show jumpers and saddle-horses) always have to be in perfect, healthy condition. This fact obviously increases the nutritional requirements of horses. Owners and trainers of competitive horses feed their chargers for optimal physical performance, condition and health. Criteria for horse nutrition are somewhat different from criteria for the nutrition of beef cattle and sheep, where the emphasis is on growth and carcass quality. Although there are many similarities between horse and livestock nutrition, the correct feeding of a performance horse remains a highly specialized science. An athlete’s performance depends on the conversion of energy into various types of intensities of motion. Performance horses need nutrients to support the biochemical conversion of energy into specific physical activities, and to maintain the condition of their bodies, making these activities possible. With this in mind, Safari Feeds developed the Safari lick block for horses. It was the first specialized lick block of its kind developed and manufactured in South Africa. The quality of roughage fed to horses, its protein content and composition, are often very variable. The protein component can vary from batch to batch, and between seasons and cuttings - from the land. During periods of intensive work, a performance horse’s protein requirement increases slightly. The Safari Block supplies high-quality protein and amino acids, supplementing any periodic deficit in dietary roughage. A horse that performs on the racecourse, show jumpers, endurance horses and eveners, needs at least 40g of salt a day to compensate for salt loss caused by sweating. The Safari lick block is formulated to supply 60g of salt a day, as salt is a known limiting factor when performance horses are fed conventional diets. The salt content in the block also restricts daily intake, preventing the block being polished off in a few days. Phosphorus is closely associated with the calcium content of bone, and is crucial for energy metabolism. Phosphorus deficiency causes skeletal abnormalities and sub-normal growth in young horses. The Safari Block provides a bio-available source of phosphorus. The calcium and phosphorus content are in balance, in the correct ratio of 2:1, ensuring absorption. Potassium is important for regulating the body fluid balance, maintaining the acid balance, and for nerve and muscle function. Vitamins and trace minerals are essential for body function. They operate at all levels, affecting everything from energy metabolism and production to hoof growth. A balanced supply of vitamins and trace minerals in the block ensures optimum health and performance. There are 17 key vitamins. The Safari Horse Block provides 20% - 30% of daily vitamin requirements. The Safari Horse Block is an effective antidote to boredom. The horse can lick and nibble at it instead of acquiring bad habits like wind-sucking, weaving and chewing the wooden poles of the paddock fence or the stable door. The Safari Horse Block also prevents horses from bolting their feed. Greedy feeding is one of the factors which cause colic in horses. A high molasses content makes the Safari Horse Block very palatable. However, the salt level and physical characteristics of the block regulate intake - it is hard and dense, and the horse has to do a lot of licking and nibbling to meet its daily needs. This makes weighing and measuring unnecessary, so the block is very easy and practical to use. It should be readily available for the horse to nibble and lick ad lib. The recommended intake is about 500 - 600g per day. A 20Kg block should last one horse between 33 and 40 days. A 1kg block is also available for stable horses.