FAQ

• Why is electrolyte supplementation important to maintaining general wellbeing?

• Electrolytes perform critical functions within the horse’s body. They help regulate healthy nerve and muscle functions by carrying electrical impulses between cells. In addition, they assist the body in maintaining normal fluid balance.

  Under normal circumstances, well-nourished, sedentary horses have little trouble keeping electrolytes at appropriate levels without additional supplementation. This does not hold true for equine athletes or horses maintained in hot, humid environments. Horses that must cool themselves through sweating and those that are exercised regularly at moderate to high levels of intensity may lose more electrolytes than their bodies can replace through a normal diet. In these instances, electrolyte supplementation is recommended to support healthy electrolyte balance. Adequate electrolyte supplementation also supports a normal thirst response that sustains healthy levels of hydration.

• How much Endura-Max should I give my endurance horse during a competition?

• Because of the tremendous amount of sweat that can be lost during a race, an endurance horse should receive 2 oz the night before, 2 oz prior to starting, and 2 oz as needed at every mandatory stop.

  Important Note:
  Always provide horses receiving electrolyte supplementation with free-choice, clean water. Lack of adequate water in a diet supplemented with electrolytes may lead to dehydration and other serious metabolic disorders.

• Is daily supplementation necessary for my endurance horse?

• Daily supplementation of electrolytes to an endurance horse is discretionary. A normal maintenance intake for horses at rest in hot environments, those that sweat when being transported, or those that sweat during light work is 1 oz per day.

  Horses at moderate work levels should receive 2-3 oz per day, and those in heavy training require 3-4 oz per day. It is recommended to divide daily doses of 3-4 oz into separate feedings.

  Important Note:
  Always provide free-choice, clean water to horses receiving electrolyte supplementation. Lack of adequate water in a diet supplemented with electrolytes may lead to dehydration and other serious metabolic disorders.

• Can I put Endura-Max in my horse’s water?

• We do not recommend that Endura-Max be added to drinking water. Since some ingredients do not dissolve well, it makes it difficult to determine the amount your horse has consumed. Mixing electrolytes into the feed or combining them with a carrier such as applesauce or syrup, or dosing electrolytes with a syringe is the best way to administer Endura-Max.

• How is Endura-Max uniquely formulated for endurance horses?

• Research has shown that not only do endurance horses deplete sodium, chloride, and potassium, but also high levels of calcium and magnesium. Because electrolyte balance is critical for maintenance of health and performance, it is crucial to replace all the lost electrolytes. Endura-Max is formulated to restore the key electrolytes lost in sweat, such as sodium, chloride, and potassium. Unlike other electrolytes, Endura-Max also replaces much-needed calcium and magnesium.

• Can Endura-Max be used for horses other than endurance horses?

• No. Endura-Max is a unique formula designed for the special needs of endurance horses. The long duration of work performed by these horses, often in hot, humid environments, results in unique metabolic conditions that are not typically experienced by other performance horses. Endura-Max provides additional calcium and magnesium that are required by horses participating in low-intensity, long-duration work. Kentucky Performance Products recommends the use of Summer Games® Electrolyte for performance horses other than endurance horses.

• What is the role of electrolytes?

• Electrolytes play an important role in maintaining osmotic pressure (which regulates the flow of water in and out of the cells in the body), fluid balance, and normal nerve and muscle activity.

• How does sweating during exercise cause dehydration?

• Horses generate a tremendous amount of heat in their bodies when they exercise or when they are stressed. When the core body temperature rises, the sweat response is triggered. Sweat is nature’s way of cooling the horse’s body through evaporation off the surface of the skin and it helps keep his core temperature at normal levels. Sweat is made up of fluid and electrolytes, so when horses sweat, they lose both water and minerals. Exercise can lead to dehydration when a horse is unable to rehydrate adequately during and after exercise. Dehydration leads to a change in osmotic pressure that signals the metabolic system to begin shutting down. It also decreases the thirst response, so horses stop drinking, making matters worse.

• How do electrolytes support a normal thirst response and maintain a healthy hydration status?

• Thirst, the desire to drink, is stimulated when electrolyte concentrations in the blood rise, signaling the body to get a drink. That is why you are thirsty after a salty meal. In the horse, when large proportions of electrolytes are lost due to sweating, the concentrations of electrolytes in the blood remain static and even though the horse needs fluid he does not get the physiological signal to drink. By replacing the electrolytes lost during sweating the signal to drink remains “turned on.” Since the ratio of electrolytes is critical to maintaining the correct electrolyte balance, it is important to offer an electrolyte that provides the correct electrolytes in the proper ratios. It is also very important to always provide free access to fresh water when a horse is being supplemented with electrolytes.

• How do I know if my horse is working hard enough to supplement with electrolytes?

• Electrolyte supplementation is recommended any time horses sweat consistently. Any level of work produces body heat and subsequent sweating. In cooler weather, the sweat may be evaporating before you see it, but the electrolytes are still being lost. Also take into consideration factors such as the time your horse spends in a trailer or tied to the trailer at an event during the heat of the day. The stress of unfamiliar environments alone can cause your horse to sweat. Under any of these circumstances, electrolyte supplementation is recommended.