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Re: [RC] Study on electrolyte/ulcers - Joe LongI'd like to offer some more observations about the use of electrolytes. First, I'm not suggesting that anyone do it the way I do just because that's how I do it. Every horse is different, weather conditions vary, trail difficulty varies, pace varies. All of this impacts the need for and optimal use of electrolytes. Second, I am a minimalist in my approach to this sport. I believe in the KISS principle (keep it simple, surely). That said, here's how I currently use electrolytes: 1. I do not use them at all at home, only at rides. That may seem to go against my often-stated principle that you don't ask the horse to do anything at a ride that you haven't conditioned him for at home, but it doesn't. The objective in not using e-lytes in training is to condition the horse to be stingy with the e-lytes in his system, to sweat less of them out and to use them more efficiently. You won't accomplish that by pumping him full of e-lytes at training rides. When I lived in the Southeast and many people rode their training rides in the early morning or evening, I would train in the hottest part of the day, without giving e-lytes. I'm convinced that helped us at the rides. 2. I rarely give any pre-ride by syringe, although I will add some to his feed that he can consume (or not) free choice the night before the ride. I start at the first vet check, one moderate dose each check. Only on a 100 with a long distance between checks do I give any on the trail. (On the Big Horn 100 last year there was only one spot where I planned to give him e-lytes between checks, but alas, the people I was riding with didn't stop where Kat had set out my stuff and I couldn't find the #&%# syringe ... so he didn't get them.) Whether I give any by syringe post-ride depends on how tough (and hot) the ride was, although he has free choice available. The most I will give by syringe post-ride is one dose. One more time: YMMV. Know your own horse's needs. But that includes not letting anyone intimidate you into giving more than you think is right for your horse. -- Joe Long jlong@xxxxxxxx http://www.rnbw.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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