Recurring subject,
funny :-) A horse having access
to good forage and a salt block doesn't need additional electrolytes. A good
conditioning and preparation to the events is by far better than any
supplementation. But all of us, we
learned that by trial and errors. I remember that I was - like Steph - using EL
agressively some time ago. Leonard, www.endurance-belgium.com
I want to heartily second what Heidi has said here!!
While horses can
and do develop electrolyte deficiencies in our sport,
the most common
metabolic problems are exhaustion (lack of energy)
and dehydration.
And often the reason a horse quits eating is because
of exhaustion -
when energy is low and muscles fatigue, blood is
shunted to the
muscles, at the expense of the stomach and intestines
and the gut
will 'shut down'. Administering electrolyte drenches
to a horse that
'seems tired' and is actually dehydrated can be very
damaging,
especially if the horse is not eating or drinking
well.
If you are new to the sport, learn about your horse
gradually - and
with fitness and experience you will develop a better
feeling for
your horse's capability and needs. If a horse stops
eating during a
ride it means (to me) either the horse is
uncomfortable or he was
ridden too hard/fast.
Steph
On Apr 29, 2008, at 10:47 AM, heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
wrote:
>> It was pointed out to me at the last ride
(my first! *grin*) that
>> the horse needs it's electrolytes
replenished when doing long
>> distances, especially in warm weather. I
already knew this.