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Re: [RC] [RC] electrolytes - Sisu West RanchPlease correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that their is a heirearchy of metabolic needs for the horse to keep him going down the trail. As a result one shouldn't do anything to compromise a more important requirement while trying to help a less important one. As I see it the needs are: 1. Air Deprived of air a horse dies in a few minutes. 2. Water. If to much is lost a horse is in trouble quickly. let him drink at every opportunity 3. Forage. If the gut isn't full there is no source of stored water, and lytes. Gut sounds stop and colic happens. 4. Temperature control. Blanket when cold, apply water when hot. (sometimes water on front, blanket on rear) 5. Extra 'lytes. Strenuous exercise and sweating will deplete 'lytes faster and in a larger quantity than are in the normal bodily reserves. 6. Rest. Allows rebuilding of reserves and tissue. Can wait for a day or so. with no problems. 7. Extra calories from grain or oil. Needed to keep the weight on our hard working horses, but can wait until after the ride. So by this reasoning, supplimental 'lytes are a bit of the way down on the list; therefore, they should be given in amounts and form that do not hinder breathing, drinking or eating. (normally no conflict with temperature control- you can do that while giving 'lytes ...but there could be if you didn't immediately blanket a hot horse on a cold day because you were trying to find the 'lytes) I know that this is a bit of an oversimplification, but I am trying to illustrate the points that: 1. 'Lytes are not a magic material. 100 mile rides have been completed without supplimental 'lytes. 2. If some are good, a lot are not necessarily better. Americans (and perhaps all humans) tend to think that if some(of anything)is good a lot is much better. Many times the right amount is good, but more is disaster. Ed Ed and Wendy Hauser Sisu West 2994 Mittower Road Victor, MT 59875 (406) 642-9640 ranch@xxxxxxxxxxx =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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