This is no ordinary dust. It suspends time. It imparts invincibility. It redefines flavors and, for margaritas, it is pure magic crowning the rim of a glass.
Salt, a natural mineral compound, plays a profound role in human life. Our cells need it to function. Our recipes need it to transcend bland. Ancient economies used it as money; Roman soldiers earned “salt money” or salarium agentum, which we now call a salary.
At the Salt of the Earth Ranch in Hesperus, Colorado, salt provides a host of wellness benefits for horses. Known as halotherapy, salt therapy involves the inhalation of micro-sized salt particles. Horses can sniff the salt through a nozzle mask or hang out in an enclosed room where the salt is dispersed into the air. The benefits are both surprising and broad.
“It will kill bacteria. It opens the airways and drains the sinuses,” explains ranch owner and founder, Chelsea Kiter. She continues, noting, “It increases energy. It increases hydration. It’s overall really great holistic therapy. There’s no side-effects. It’s drug-free. It’s non-invasive. You could do it every day.”
That salt kills or repels microorganisms is the same reason why ancient civilizations used it to make both immortal mummies and deliciously preserved pickles. And the American Lung Association and National Institutes of Health confirm that as purposeful therapy applied since the mid-1800s, salt therapy has promoted beneficial outcomes in the human respiratory system. From discharging mucus to blocking allergens, halotherapy has been shown to relieve symptoms of bronchitis, asthma, and other diseases.
Kiter discovered equine salt therapy when a beloved horse developed heaves, or the equivalent of asthma.
“I grew up with the horses,” Kiter says. “My mom’s been working with horses for forty years.”
Raised in a holistic household, Kiter erred on the side of all-natural, alternative treatments for her horses. “Steroids and the drugs were just going to cause underlying problems and side-effects,” she recounts. “I wanted to give him something I could do every day and not worry about it.”
After a lot of searching, Kiter found a halotherapist at Florida racetrack who shared his knowledge of gear and technique so that she could treat her horse. “I saw amazing results right away so I continued to do it.”
A horse’s lungs move almost 60 liters of air every minute. Unfortunately, horses may not always enjoy the best air quality dwelling in dusty stables or barns. While running races, rounding barrels, or hauling gear out on trails, horses wind up inhaling lots of irritants.
Salt therapy combats the inevitable respiratory inflammation they develop, as well as a host of skin conditions. It is broadly endorsed by track officials, veterinarians, trainers, and equine centers of health and safety.
Newly launched in 2024, Salt of the Earth Ranch is both wellness retreat and bed & breakfast, with luxurious accommodations for people while horses enjoy verdant “layover” paddocks plus halotherapy treatments to help them prepare for or recover from an event, or simply better acclimate to the high elevation. Locals can also bring their horses to the ranch for a quick treatment, or Kiter can bring the equipment to them. She’s also retrofitting a trailer to serve as a salt “cave” she can bring to rodeos where two or three horses can simultaneously relax, munch hay, and bask in salty air currents.
As far as Kiter is concerned, a horse is no ordinary animal. As she puts it, “There’s definitely a soul connection there with a horse. They can feel your heartbeat from several feet away.” Seems only natural they benefit from no ordinary dust.