Educate Me - Electrolytes

[Tiffani B]

I have a few questions regarding electrolytes...

1. Can you overdose a horse on them?
2. Should they be given in anticipation of hard work, or AFTER the work?

I'm asking because we're at a show this weekend, with heat indexes over 100 and 70% humidity. Ungodly hot. I have him on his usual dose of electrolytes in his water. I gave him a dose of electrolyte paste yesterday before I put him on the trailer to get here (3.5 hour drive).

He is not sweating in his stall, but of course he is going to be dripping wet after we ride.

Should I increase the amount in his water? I don't want him to refuse to drink it - he can be picky.

Or should I give him the paste? If so, should I do it before our class, or after? And should I then eliminate the dose in the water, or doesn't it matter?

I don't want to hurt my boy, and I want to make sure he is fully hydrated and healthy.

Thanks for any advice!

[Boomer]

I'd also like to know why "we" want no-sugar electro's for horses, but human electro-drinks (Gatorade, etc) are chock full of sugar.

[Twisting]

As long as he has a constant supply of fresh water in addition to his electrolyted water it's pretty hard to OD them it. My horse gets them in his feed everyday. Just because you don't see sweat on them in their stalls doesn't mean they aren't sweating, it just means the sweat is evaporating quickly and doing it's job of cooling the horse.

And sugar and electrolytes are two different things. The theory behind the sugar in gatorade is a quick energy boost after exersize. (And to make it sweeter so it sells better) and has nothing to do with electrolyte balance. Re-energizing after exercize is important but can be done in better ways than a sugar hit. I tend to go for sugar free for both human and horse.

What's never made sense to me is giving electrolytes to a horse that doesn't really need them in order to make the horse drink more. If they don't need the electrolyte replacement all your doing is throwing off their electrolye balance and dehydrating them so they'll drink more so they won't be dyhydrated??? Yeah they drink more, and as long as they have access to water I suppose it's not hurting them any but the end hydration level is the same as if you hadn't given them salt in the first place.

[Tiffani B]

As long as he has a constant supply of fresh water in addition to his electrolyted water it's pretty hard to OD them it. My horse gets them in his feed everyday. Just because you don't see sweat on them in their stalls doesn't mean they aren't sweating, it just means the sweat is evaporating quickly and doing it's job of cooling the horse.

Oh I wish the air were dry enough to evaporate water! It is so muggy and steamy.

I'll add a bucket of non-electrolyted water for him. I hadn't thought of that. Thanks.

[Tiffani B]

Anyone? I'm trying to decide if I should give him the electrolyte paste before or after my classes this weekend... Input would be appreciated.

[evans36]

I would give him a paste dose the day before to make sure he drinks that day so that he's fully hydrated before you ride (make him drink more water that way - although if you think he's already drinking sufficient amounts, skip this), then give him a dose after the ride to help him replenish. I know when I had a dehydration episode recently my doctor said to drink the electrolytes during and just after exercise rather than before.

[deltawave]

A healthy, fit horse has a remarkable capacity for making use of whatever electrolytes are supplied, in whatever form, at whatever timing interval. :) You could conceivably give "too much" but it would take A LOT OF DOING. Healthy kidneys and a healthy gut will simply dump what isn't needed, although a massive oversupply of oral electrolytes can cause diarrhea which is sort of counterproductive. ;)

Before, during, or after probably doesn't matter all that much, in spite of what the marketing departments of the 15 billion electrolyte products would have us believe. :)

I give them salt blocks and free choice minerals at home, make sure they have plenty of cool, clean water, and if it's BEASTLY hot and/or they're working hard I offer them a couple of scoops of electrolytes (yeah, the sugary kind) in their feed tub after they've eaten. If they want it, it's there. And even though it's sweet and sugary, I find they will often ignore it so I figure they're not just snarfing it up because it tastes like candy. :)

Personally I don't like to mix electrolytes with water--dumping in salt "to make a horse drink" to me is an exercise in futility: if they're getting so much salt that they're forcing water because they're super thirsty it's not a net gain in the hydration department. :)

Basically I think it's smart to provide a little extra when horses are sweating and/or working very hard in the heat/humidity, but I don't think it matters how or when the stuff is provided. Whatever suits you and your horses. Don't sweat it. ;)