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Re: [RC] [Guest] Electrolytes - Heidi SmithWhen you have fog you have 100% humidity. In those conditions even in cool weather evaporative cooling does not work since nothing can evaporate (the air is already saturated - that what fog is). I remember a talk one time on research done on electrolytes (blood analysis) where the researcher pointed out one of the rides with the largest loss of electrolytes by the first check came at ride where the temp was in the 50's and fog. The horses don't cool. These conditions are very deceptive and the riders that were sponging and electrolyting were aware of the conditions. I guess we have to define "mild." While Truman is correct here, there is also a fine line between the point where horses can't cool because of the fog and where horses will shiver violently if soaked with cold water. Having had to pull horses from competition due to the latter, I'd have to say "it depends." One of my worst "nightmare" vet checks as a ride vet was a first check on a foggy hillside where we could barely see our hands in front of our faces. Several overzealous riders came in and started sponging like crazy--and we quickly found ourselves raiding people's campers for blankets, sleeping bags, quilts, ANYTHING to put on these horses to keep them warm! We got all but a couple of them out of there without cramping up, thank goodness! And before I get jumped on for being anti-sponging, I'm not at all. My sponge is well-worn, believe me! But COMMON SENSE is the key here, folks.... This past weekend I had a well-meaning but novice ride vet tell me that I needed to sponge my horse when I came into the second check. The sun was out and it was "warm" in the sunshine where she was working. But my horse came in at criteria and completely dry. (Granted, he had been sweating earlier and had some "crusties" on him.) And my campsite was in the shade. And as soon as I went over there, the breeze started up--and I needed to put a rug on him even though he wasn't wet. Thank heavens I didn't follow her advice! Those of us in the "frozen nawth" have to consider different circumstances sometimes. Next check was a different story--breeze was no longer cold, and sponging was a good thing. Heidi =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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