ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: [endurance] Horse's drinking habits

Re: [endurance] Horse's drinking habits

Tommy Crockett (tomydore@goblin.punk.net)
Tue, 7 Nov 1995 12:04:55 -0800 (PST)

According to research at CSU and verified by my pal Kerry Ridgeway
preloading for several days is useless. Just prior to the ride is as you
mention useful.

t

On Mon, 6 Nov 1995, Joe Long wrote:

> I'd like to add my two cents on pre-loading electrolytes.
>
> I don't think it's necessary to pre-load for all rides, but I do
> believe it is helpful to most horses for hot/humid rides.
>
> A horse is a large animal. Adding a few ounces of salts to his feed
> for a day or two leading up to the ride, and giving a syringefull
> prior to the start, is not going to cause an imbalance even if he
> does not drink. The worst that might happen is that you'll pull a
> little water out of his bloodstream into his gut early on, but it's
> still inside the horse ready to be reabsorbed when needed.
>
> Giving electrolytes will make most horses thirsty and encourage
> drinking to some extent. Try it on yourself -- lick a handfull of
> salt and see if you don't feel like drinking some water soon
> afterwards.
>
> As in all cases, horses are individuals and there will be exceptions
> -- so try it at home first, using a hot/humid training weekend; and
> when you first try it for a ride, go easy on the quantity and watch
> the results. If everything goes OK, use more the next time.
>
> --
>
> Joe Long Rainbow Connection Arabians
> PC/LAN Manager home of Kahlil Khai
> Calhoun Community College AERC Hall of Fame horse
> jlong@hiwaay.net 11,475 miles completed
>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~Tommy Crockett~Los Osos, California USA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~tomydore@goblin.punk.net~~DAMS028%CALPOLY.BITNET.cmsa.berkeley.edu~