Jihad's first 50!

["guest@endurance.net" <guest@endurance.net>]

Sharon Satterwhite ssatt44@hotmail.com
My horse, Jihad finished his first 50 on Saterday! A very   experienced feather wieght, Susan Castang, rode him for me
and now we need some Monday morning Quarter Backing.Re-read
Sue G's hydration artical and I realized how close we came.
Jihad had electrolites and free grass hay for the 24hrs prior to ride, electrolited on trail, and "drank like a fish". All he wanted at the 5 vet checks was the bran mash, or hay at lunch,
refusing the beet mash. Hydration stayed at A all day and  B
on gut sounds. However, after the ride I saw him straining to 
pass dung, and it was pretty dry. He was acting famished and
tore into his hay and FINALLY the beet mash. By dark all was fairly nornmal. His total time was just over 11 hrs, so he was
not rushed. HELP! how can I avoid this again? What do I change,
I thought I had my bases covered!

                     Sharon and Jihad(feed me!)