How is Horslyx made?

Not all licks are the same…

Have you ever wondered how feed blocks and mineral licks are made?

There are three main methods used to manufacture feeds blocks and mineral licks; these are pressed, chemically hardened and cooked.

• Pressed - The ingredients and binders are blended and pressed into the finished block. These are the traditional, brick shaped, salt licks.

• Chemically Hardened - Chemical hardening agents are added to a liquid, this produces an exothermic reaction causing the finished product to become hard and brittle - these are not normally weatherproof and also palatability can be a problem due to the smell (ammonia/fishy smell).

• Horslyx is Cooked - This cooking (thermal) process is exclusively used to manufacture Horslyx (and Crystalyx). This method is a patented process and involves the cooking of the base ingredients molasses and oil, crystallizing the sugar. As the mixture cools the vitamin, mineral and trace element package is added, along with high-pro Soya (and the extra ingredients for Respiratory, Mobility and Garlic Horslyx).

When the product cools down and sets it becomes hard.

This process is very similar to making Toffee at home!

This is a patented process and CALTECH are the only company in Europe who are able to produce licks using this unique cooking process.


The benefits of this unique cooking process are:

• No chemical hardeners, No unwanted fillers or binders, No artificial colours, preservatives or flavourings!

• Very low moisture content (buying product not water) - some chemically hardened licks can be over 20% water! Horslyx is only 2% (so you are buying product not water!).

• Weatherproof - all products can be used outside

• The lick will soften at the horse's body temperature, ensuring that Horslyx is easily broken down in the gut and readily digested, thus safeguarding the possibility of undigested matter blocking the digestive tract and causing colic.

So next time you are looking at feed blocks and mineral licks remember -

Not all licks are the same!