Heidi is riding her horse smart obviously and
the horse is getting electrolytes from a natural source. Makes perfect sense to
me and a job well done I might add.
And yes, Nik, this is definitely food for
thought on the subject. Glad it has caused you to think on
it.
Hi Heidi, 6000 competitive miles!Dr Heidi Smith!No electrolyte!I am
thoroughly and utterly confused! This is interesting.Can you expand
further.I mean a horse is a horse whether it is ridden in Montana,down in
Florida or inKuala Lumpur.Accepted that there exist individual variation
in sweating and ability to conserve internal millieu.But 6000 competitive
miles are still 6000 competitive miles.I will probably be more
conservative with my electrolyting going by your
experience.
Nik
>From: "Heidi Smith" <heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >To:
<steph@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,"Scott
Johnson" ><scottj@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>,<ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Subject:
Re: [RC] electrolytes >Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2003 23:29:23
-0600 > > > The biggest problem I see with administering
electrolytes is that there > > seems to be an attitude that giving
more electrolytes will make up for > > riding too fast. I believe
some horses can compete at the top w/o > > electrolytes, I also
believe that it is wise to replace salts that are >lost >
> during competition with electrolyte dosing, BUT - if the horse is
ridden > > beyond it's natural ability, or beyond it's level of
training and > > preparation, then no amount of electrolytes or
probiotics or carbos will > > help the horse. In fact, they might
actually cause more harm than good. >You > > can't get back
what has already been lost (electrolytes, glycogen) w/o > > adequate
rest. > >Bingo, Steph. > >And I might add that one has
to take into account the differences between >individual horses, the
differences in climate, weather changes, etc. in >determining whether to
lyte, and how much to lyte if you do. > >I will preface this
statement by saying that I actively select for horses >that are
extremely efficient eaters and drinkers, and that I also select >from
family lines that are already proven to be able to compete
without >lytes. That said--I have yet to lyte a horse in nearly
6000 miles of >competition. Some of that has been slow, but a fair
amount has been >actively racing. In that time, I've had only two
metabolic pulls, both >back >in the 70s, and in retrospect both
due to ignorance in feeding practices. >I've ridden in SOME rides where
humidity combined with heat was a factor >(and a lot of HOT rides
without the really extreme humidity). And my >horses' bloodwork,
when done, has been good. > >As a ride vet, I HAVE treated horses
that have been either over-lyted or >incorrectly lyted, if you
prefer. It CAN and DOES happen. Maybe it
>doesn't >happen in the SE--but it sure happens up here where it
is cooler. > >E-lytes have a profound physiological effect--and I
think one should try to >understand HOW they work in the body before one
goes overboard on >administering them. They can be profound both
in their lack and in
their >overabundance. > >Heidi > > >=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > >
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