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[RC] Competing without elytes - Patti Kuvik

Is it the "elytes" or the sugar that causes the "instant" perkiness? Most
elytes contain some form of easily abosorbable sugar - dextrose, sucrose,
etc - both to improve palatability and to enhance the absorbtion of the
other ingredients. (See Karen's elyte comparasion chart)
http://members.tripod.com/ridephotos/electrolytes/compare.html
But, while the elytes (mineral salts) themselves need to be absorbed via
some farther stage of the GI tract, some of the sugar can begin to be
directly absorbed into the blood stream starting at the mouth - much as a
diabetic might use a glucose gel to counter low blood sugar. The elytes,
meanwhile, may undergo some delay before actually finding their way into the
bloodstream (if they get there at all -
http://www.questhealthlibrary.com/minerals/absorbtion ).
The brain is a huge consumer of glucose and obtains it directly from the
blood. If liver stores of glycogen are depleted
http://web.indstate.edu/thcme/mwking/glycogen.html, the brain may be the
first to go - and the first thing to perk up when supplemental glucose is
supplied.

I struggle through figuring out metabolic pathways (and envy those
steel-trap minds that can keep this at their fingertips) but I do feel that
those who can cover the distance without elytes do so because they have good
reserves either by design (analyzing rations and optimizing supplementation)
or intuition (the old cowboy way of feeding a variety of forages from
different growing regions that ulitmately provide a balance) and provide
adequate salt on a daily basis http://www.saltinstitute.org/47u.html so
their horses never start out borderline or depleted. Nutrition seems such a
fundamental part of endurance - as much as conditioning, saddle fit, hoof
care, etc - it doesn't have to be rocket science but, would anyone blindly
go to a tough 50 without conditioning and a proper fitting saddle or loose
shoes? Then why do it without understanding a horse's basic fuel needs?
(Everyone who knows how much magnesium is in 5 lbs of alfalfa hay raise
their hands : )

While much of the "research" is mind boggleing - both to find and to read -
much is available in "understandable" form and is equally useful for the
backyard pony to the elite athlete.
http://www.ker.com/library/advances/124.pdf for example.
The KER library has a wealth of usable info
http://www.ker.com/library/index.asp
as do the many vet school websites
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ceh/default.htm
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Equine/graduate/orthopedics/current.html
and IVIS (International Veterinary Information Service)
http://www.ivis.org/home.asp
and Dr. Susan G's good basic info on her website
http://www.shady-acres.com/susan/index.shtml
The Equine Cushing's list, while aimed at metabolically compromised horses
has a multitude of Dr. Kellon's insightful articles which are applicable to
any horse in the files
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EquineCushings/

Patti Kuvik
Vail AZ


From: Chris Paus <paus@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [RC]   Competing without elytes

To use or not to use e-lytes is a personal decision one based on what is
best for the horse, not what >everyone else is doing, I hope.

I'm guessing that most of the lyte-less riders are in the west, where the
climate is drier, or >northeast where it is cooler (compared to where I
live). My guess is that most central region and >southern region riders will
use elytes. The heat and humidity are killers.

As far as elytes being caustic, I don't think so. My horse Star has
literally grabbed chunks of >PerformnWin out of my hands and gobbled it down
before I could get it in a syringe. Apparently, >he knew what he needed and
went for it.

I've gone out to my pasture on hot humid days and offered some elyte powder
and the horses have >licked it out of my hands and come back for more, so my
guess is it wasn't that caustic to them or >they surely wouldn't have come
back for seconds.

I have seen vets  here at rides administer some Lyte Now to horses that
were on the verge of >trouble and seen with my own eyes, the horses perk
back up.

Does every horse in every ride need electrolytes? Probably not. But it's
also not a good idea to say >that no horse needs them. I think it depends
tremendously on the conditions in which the horse is >being ridden and the
amount of energy the horse has to expend.

chris


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