Lick and Mineral Blocks for Horses: Which One and Why

Choose a lick or block by what you need it to do. Horslyx balancers are designed to balance nutrient deficiencies in forage and grazing, while Barastoc Rebalance is a molasses based protein and mineral block suitable for all types of horses. The Horslyx details in this guide come from the maker's international website, which says its product information is written in an international context and can conflict with local regulation. The label on the pack is the final word.

What a lick or block is for

Horslyx says its balancers are designed to balance any nutrient deficiencies in forage and grazing, and that when fed with good quality forage they remove the need for buckets of hard feed. The maker describes a trickle feed approach: the horse always has access to the product and chooses when it needs it, which Horslyx says replicates what horses and ponies would have in the wild.

Horslyx also says licking takes time and patience, which suits horses stabled for long periods, and that licking enhances saliva production, which helps support the digestive system. For the wider picture, read our horse and farm feed basics guide.

How the makers say to feed one

Horslyx says to introduce its balancers slowly and to monitor the intake rate. Its How to Feed page suggests around 10 minutes a day for the first week, then around half an hour to an hour. Once the horse is used to the product, the maker says consumption often falls and the balancer can be left for free use.

The same page gives these target intakes, and how long a 5kg tub lasts at each:

  • Pony (300kg): 200g per day, lasting approximately 25 days.
  • Horse (500kg): 250g per day, lasting approximately 20 days.

Horslyx says a holder with a restrictor bar lets you monitor and restrict intake. It also says to offer at least two tubs wherever more than one horse is fed, to avoid bullying. Follow the label for your product.

The Horslyx range from the maker's pages

Horslyx says its balancers contain no chemical hardeners, artificial preservatives or colours. Its range list also includes a Respiratory Balancer, which this guide does not cover.

Original

Horslyx says Original is suitable for all horses, from those at rest needing a low calorie diet to performance horses that may need additional supplementation. It contains a vitamin, mineral and trace element package with antioxidants, linseed oil as an omega-3 source, and biotin, methionine and chelated zinc for healthy hooves. The maker says it comes in several tub sizes, and the 5kg tub is the one linked in this guide.

Mobility

Horslyx says Mobility can help maintain healthy joints in all horses, of all ages and breeds. It says the product may help lessen the chance of stiffness in horses stabled for long periods. Horslyx cites independent research at the University of Central Lancashire, using six Thoroughbred horses, which it says found the product can help reduce joint stiffness.

Digestion

Horslyx describes Digestion (listed by Horslyx as the Pro Digest Balancer) as suitable for any horse or pony, especially those prone to digestive upsets. It contains slippery elm and seaweed meal as sources of mucilage, a prebiotic yeast extract and a live probiotic yeast, and Horslyx says the probiotic needs feeding daily for sustained results. The maker also names poor doers, horses that develop loose droppings and older horses with poor dentition. If you are working on a horse's weight, see horse feed for weight gain.

Mini Horslyx as hand-fed treats

Horslyx describes Mini Horslyx as a lickable treat that gives a horse a tasty and engaging experience and a longer lasting reward for training and behavioural management. The 650g size is designed to be fed from the hand, which the maker says makes it ideal as a distraction or treat. The pages give no daily intake for the minis, so follow the label.

Horslyx says Mint Mini Horslyx contains pure peppermint oil for a tasty and refreshing flavour, and Garlic Mini Horslyx contains pure garlic oil to help deter biting insects.

A protein and mineral block: Barastoc Rebalance

Barastoc describes Rebalance Horse Block as formulated to help horses overcome pasture deficiencies by providing a palatable, balanced protein and mineral source to grazing horses. It says the molasses is added for palatability and ready acceptance, the vegetable protein source contains essential amino acids required for maintenance, growth and tissue repair, and the block may assist horses grazing oxalate rich pastures.

Barastoc says its recommendations are a guide only, because the amount fed varies with the horse's condition and the quality of pasture or roughage. If you feed other fortified feeds or supplements, it says to consult a veterinarian or equine nutritionist.

When to ask your vet

Horslyx's FAQ says it would always recommend caution with horses and ponies on restricted rations, because the lick is very palatable and a hungry horse or pony may eat more than the recommended daily intake if given free access. Speak to your vet before offering any lick or block to a horse on a restricted diet.

Laminitis, respiratory problems, joint problems and digestive problems are for your vet to assess. If your horse or pony has any of these, ask your vet before adding a lick, block or mini.

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Frequently asked questions

How much lick should a horse eat a day?

Horslyx's FAQ says an average 500kg horse should consume 250g a day, and its How to Feed page gives 200g a day for a 300kg pony. The maker says this can be hard to monitor, so follow the label for your product.

Can I leave a lick in the paddock?

Horslyx says its balancers are a weatherproof feeding solution for use in the stable and the field. Once a horse has accepted the lick, the maker says free access can be allowed, and the majority of horses will self-regulate.

Why use a holder?

Horslyx says a holder with a restrictor bar helps monitor consumption and reduces consumption rates if a horse eats too quickly. As an alternative, the maker suggests limiting access to one to two hours a day.

Can a horse on a restricted diet have a lick?

Horslyx says it would always recommend caution with horses and ponies on restricted rations, as a hungry horse may eat more than the recommended daily intake. Speak to your vet before deciding.

Do licks contain molasses?

Horslyx says its lick is molasses based, which makes it highly palatable. Barastoc says Rebalance Horse Block is also a molasses based protein and mineral supplement. Check the label on the pack for the product you are considering.

Browse the full range in Horse Feed.

Sources

Product facts in this guide are taken from the manufacturers' own pages listed below and from the product listings on this site; general care points are given as practical guidance, not veterinary advice. Last reviewed 15 October 2026.

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