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RE: [RC] Electrolytes - as a supplement - Susan E. Garlinghouse, D.V.M.Assuming the amount of "pink stuff" being fed isn't excessive (say, more than maybe an ounce), then there's no particular harm in it. Might be some sugar, only an issue if the horse has some significant insulin-resistant issues, an ounce isn't a big deal. Any bicarb is only a problem if the horse is actively being an endurance horse, which he's not. The Clovite is IMO, a waste of money, just some redundant B vitamins, mostly. I also think kelp is a waste of money and contributes to some iodine toxicity in some cases. No particular harm in a small dose, but I don't recommend it, either. MSM and glucosamine, money is better spent on injectable Legend. Yucca and biotin, fine. A small amount of electrolytes just doesn't make a big difference either way. Mashes containing more than 1-2% salt in non-deficient horses tend to become unpalatable, so that should probably be the limiting factor. No, horses do not conserve or retain excess electrolytes in anticipation of future need, except for the normal levels circulating in plasma and intracellular fluids, nor do the kidneys become more efficient at electrolyte usage with conditioning. No mechanism exists for this to occur. Solid research demonstrating this, it's not just my opinion. There's no benefit to restricting its availability during training, and potentially some detrimental effects if electrolytes are not in sufficient supply during ANY exercise bout, training or competition. So there's no harm in making them work for it if sufficient time is available for them to do so. I wouldn't suggest it if there is a large ongoing electrolyte loss, such as during multi-day ride and so on. Then free choice is probably a more prudent option. Susan Garlinghouse, DVM, MS -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Rae Callaway Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2005 6:27 PM To: rides2far@xxxxxxxx Cc: heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: [RC] Electrolytes - as a supplement I don't think this horse will ever be an endurance horse. They seem to be heading down the show direction - even though his prepurchase exam showed arthritis, they got him anyway. The stuff he's on (2x a day): 3lbs my feed mill pellets, 3lbs Purina Sr, Flax seeds, MSM/Glucosomine, Strongid C and neon pink tack store electrolytes. Also, since they've talked about it and now everything's mixed together and I don't know if it's in there or not - yucca, biotin, clovite and sea kelp. Plus there's the coastal hay that I provide and her extra alfalfa hay. I've never had a horse receive so much stuff per meal - not even my 37 year old gelding who actually died of old age. My big issue with this is that the horse is ultimately in my care. I'm the one who has to feed him and I will be the one there if anything happens to him. He has had one rather severe colic episode shortly after he moved in. Rae Tall C Arabians - Central -----Original Message----- From: rides2far@xxxxxxxx [mailto:rides2far@xxxxxxxx] Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2005 9:01 PM To: tallcarabians@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Cc: heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Electrolytes - as a supplement Reason I'm asking is that I have a boarder - a first time horse owner - who is insisting that I feed her horse electrolytes in his feed. Along with several other supplements. When at the PNER convention, we stayed at a hotel that was also hosting a 3-day eventing convention. They were having a trade show and I walked through. There was a feed company there that had a computer program that he could put in your brand of feed and all your supplements and could tell you how they interacted and what you were off on. As I walked by he asked me what combinations I feed. I sort of apologetically told him I just feed a good commercial feed and free choice bermuda hay, free choice salt. He looked shocked and then sort of did a big sigh and said, "That's the smartest answer anybody's had all day". He said he sees horrible cases of people starting with a nice balanced feed then screwing all the ratios up with all the additives they throw in. As to the electrolytes...from what I understand, endurance horses become alkaline. Horses with scours and race horses need electrolytes because they become acidic. If you use their electrolytes on an endurance horse, doesn't that just make matters worse? 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