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[RC] Ol' Time E'olytes - rides2far@xxxxxxxxI don't typically give electrolytes to a horse who is not "drinking well". Some folks have indicated that they give electrolytes in an attempt to induce a "drink response" in the horse. I won't post this to say, "This is how it should be" but if everybody's seriously trying to find patterns I'll give you a "this is how it was for us". When Josie competed Ben Amil, he never drank till 25 miles. This is a horse who did 2600 miles or so and had super recoveries. We just gave him his electrolytes as usual. (once before the ride started AM, and at the first and 2nd check. (He did eat some beet pulp but not *that* much) The second you left the 25 mile checkpoint he'd start drinking like a camel at every opportunity. I was worried about him waiting so long to drink and asked Dr. Otis about it. He just looked at me like I was stupid and said, "How long's this horse been doing this?" the answer was 10 years. Then he said, "He knows the deal by now and it works for him". Now, if somebody had ridden this horse till he was 24 (he's still going) and decided to make him drink before 25 miles they'd be pretty disappointed. Interesting note on him & Kaboot. Kaboot drank better, but lost more weight during a ride. Ben wasn't opposed to going a whole 50 without peeing, once at the most. Never saw any signs he was "dumping extra electrolytes". He ate OK, but really liked to rest at checks. He won BC at Hahira over around 100 horses with a junior on him when a heavyweight won. He had pretty darned good vet scores. So far, I've never not given electrolytes because a horse wasn't drinking. Can't say that's ideal, but it's worked for us. Angie =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 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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