Almost all horses have a lick in their stable. Sometimes it hangs there for years to dust, in other cases the stones are almost gnawed up and the owner starts to doubt whether his horse is taking in too much salt. Dosing is difficult. And what is actually in such a stone? A liquid lick for horses offers a solution. Although we all want our horses to be able to absorb enough minerals, with a normal lick it remains impossible to know whether all shortages are being supplemented. After all, you cannot see or measure how much your horse absorbs. In addition, many licks contain only a limited number of minerals and often also in a form that is less absorbable. A liquid lick works easier and contains many more elements.

Seawater and algae for better absorption

A liquid lick is based on sea water. That may sound a bit strange, because of course we don't keep sea horses. However, research shows that mineral products from the sea have many advantages. Not only does it contain many different microelements, it is also much more absorbable than minerals that are given as a powder bonded to oxide or sulphate. The micro-elements in seawater do not float around loosely, but are bound to small unicellular algae, also known as phytoplankton. You don't see those algae with the naked eye, but they play an extremely important role in the absorption of the liquid lick. The algae serve as a carrier for the microelements. Because they are in the algae, they can easily pass through the intestinal wall and be absorbed into the blood. This is often a problem with mineral supplements that are fed as oxide or sulphate. A large part of the minerals is not absorbed, but excreted. Moreover: When a horse has absorbed enough microelements, it is also better able to absorb all minerals and macroelements that are in its feed. Thus, a small amount of microelements provides better absorption of all elements of the ration (including hay and chunk). The French biologist, biochemist and physiologist René Quinton (1866-1925) already described the usefulness of mineral-rich seawater in his book on seawater as an organic medium. According to him, there is a direct relationship between seawater and blood plasma. He showed that blood and what he called "ocean plasma" are interchangeable. That ocean plasma is in fact sea water minus the sodium salt. When you extract the salt from seawater, it has an almost identical mineral composition as blood plasma. That is the reason that such ocean plasma is 100% absorbable in the intestines and that it has an almost identical supporting function for the body as blood plasma.

Minerals for horses

A seawater liquid lick contains significant amounts of calcium, potassium, magnesium and selenium. Depending on the type of soil and the type of roughage that a horse receives, many Dutch horses have an extra need for these minerals. So it may be wise to supplement it. Thanks to the high absorption, this is extra easy with a liquid lick.

Fulvic acids

Fulvic acids are organic acids, which are also found in humus. The effect of fulvic acid on soil fertility and the health of plants and crops has long been known. Fulvic acid also has beneficial effects on human and animal health. The acids act as a very important means of transport in the body, they can bind and transport particles. Fulvic acid can enter any cell of an animal or plant and transports nutrients such as vitamins, herbs, enzymes and minerals to the right cells. As soon as these nutrients have been delivered, fulvic acid takes the (possibly) present toxins, such as pesticides and heavy metals, back with them for disposal. Fulvic acids are therefore also an important addition to a liquid lick.

Conclusion: liquid lick has many advantages

A liquid lick from seawater has many advantages for horses. Not only does it contain many different microelements, it also improves the absorption of other minerals and supplements. In addition, a good liquid lick contains probiotics for digestion and fulvic acids that ensure that all nutrients end up in the right place. Finally, a liquid lick is easy to dose, so you can always be sure that your horse is getting enough microelements and minerals. Sources: Maynard Murray, M.D., "Sea Energy Agriculture" Acres U.S.A., (2003) Daught @ Hak, internal investigation, 2017-2019 René Quinton. L'eau de Mer, Meileu Organique 2018. Franklin Classics, 2018 (This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923)