Electrolytes
No matter what the season, when horses work hard they produce heat and sweat. Properly cooling down your horse will ensure he stays sound and healthy. A daily workout for your horse probably consists of four separate periods: warm-up, active conditioning or schooling, warm-down, and cool-down. During warm weather training, the warm-down and cool-down periods are especially important because horses may be hot from conditioning exercises. The warm-down... Read More »
Category : Electrolytes | Health & Management | Tips and Topics
What is heat stroke and how do you recognize it? Heat stroke occurs when you horse’s natural cooling mechanisms fail to keep his body temperature at a normal level. If left untreated, heat stroke could kill your horse. The best way to avoid heat stroke is to closely monitor your horse when riding in warm weather. Know your horse’s normal vital signs, know the symptoms of heat stroke, and take immediate action to cool your horse off when he gets too... Read More »
Category : Electrolytes | Health & Management | Tips and Topics
To ride or not to ride, that is the question. Temperature alone is not a good guide when it comes to deciding if you should ride on a hot summer day. It is the combination of heat and humidity that should be your major concern. Your horse’s natural radiator is a combination of skin surface and sweat. As your horse’s body warms up, his sweat glands release sweat: a combination of water and minerals. As the water evaporates off the skin it cools the... Read More »
Category : Electrolytes | Health & Management | Tips and Topics
Interesting fact: Water makes up about 65% of a mature horse’s body weight. For a 15.2-hand, 1,000-pound horse, that amounts to 650 pounds or 85 gallons of water! In order to maintain proper hydration, horses must drink significant quantities of water. In a cool environment, an inactive horse may drink around seven to 10 gallons daily. In a hot or humid environment, however, a horse might drink more than 20 gallons of water a day. This is precisely... Read More »
Category : Electrolytes | Tips and Topics
If you’ve spent any time around a stable during the summer months, then you are probably acquainted with the smell of equine sweat. The sharp odor may be indicative of hard work, but sweat loss also points to a significant management concern: electrolyte supplementation. Electrolytes perform critical functions in the horse’s body. Most notably, they help regulate nerve and muscle function by carrying electrical impulses between cells. In addition,... Read More »
Category : Electrolytes | Tips and Topics
What are electrolytes? Imagine you are riding your horse on a hot summer day. If you do more than walk, you both begin to sweat. After a good workout your horse’s coat is soaked and in some places even frothy. As you remove your helmet, the sweat runs down your face and you taste the saltiness on your lips. That salty flavor is from the electrolytes that, along with water, make up sweat. Electrolytes serve multiple functions in your horse’s body. The... Read More »
Category : Electrolytes | Nutritional Minutes | Tips and Topics
"I have only a few weeks’ worth of electrolyte supplement left in my bucket. With fall and winter approaching, do I need to order more and continue feeding year-round? I ride my gelding in the off-season, but ask nothing strenuous of him, usually just quiet hacking a couple times a week." Your question is a timely one. Most horsemen and horsewomen classify electrolytes as “seasonal supplements.” That way of thinking is certainly justified. After... Read More »
Category : Electrolytes | Tips and Topics
