Re: [RC] sodium bicarb formula in Equi ade - Susan E. Garlinghouse, D.V.M.
My preference would be a formulation with zero
bicarb in it. Yes, a small percentage of endurance horses produce enough
lactic acid that bicarb may be helpful. The majority of horses out there
do not. In hot environments, most horses will be breathing hard enough to
cool themselves off that the systems run towards alkalotic, with a related
effect that blood-borne calcium is more highly protein-bound (and thus less
available) and thus more of a contributing factor towards tying up and other
electrolyte-depletion-related fatigue syndrome. As such, whatever lactic
acid is being produced may be helpful is offsetting a trend towards
alkalosis.
I shoulda just stopped at the short answer
above. My preference is zero bicarb for endurance horses.
This
is a post from the Equi ade manufacturer. Heidi & Susan , please evaluate her
formula and let me know if this 6.5% is too much for our
sport.
Thanks,
Susan
-----Original Message----- From:LIGHTENINGW@xxxxxxx
[mailto:LIGHTENINGW@xxxxxxx] Sent: Friday, May 28, 2004 4:23
PM To:milamj@xxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re:
sodium bicarb in Equi ade
Hi Susan- I understand
your concerns about sodium bicarbonate for Endurance Horses. And this
issue really is under debate, as it is the amount of sodium bicarb that is
probably what is more important. In high levels it could be bad for
horses after they have exercised (actually sweated) to an extreme
amount. But in a small percentage sodium bicarb is found to be more
beneficial than harmful. Here is why: Muscles get their enegy and
blood supply from cells. These cells help maintain a normal
acid/alkaline balance in the horses metabolic system, which helps the horse
perform to it's best capabilities without suffering from metabolic
stress. When a horse (or human) overexerts their muscles through
exercise the muscles can end up with an overload of lactic acid (or
acidosis) which causes muscle soreness and can lead to tying up.
The reason sodium bicarbonate is in Equi-ade, (and some other electrolytes),
is that sodium bicarb is an alkaline based product which therefore helps
balance out the overabundance of lactic acid in the cells, which then promotes
normal cell function to the muscles, in working horses or people. But, there
are some camps who beleive sodium bicarb is not a good thing in electrolytes
because horses that sweat in great excess (like endurance horses) can then
suffer from alkalosis, and suffer metabolically. So if a horse is
in alkalosis then you would not want to add any more alkaline products to the
horses system. You may know all or some of this, but thought I would go
over that with you. Before I developed Equi-ade, I researched these
types of issues and checked with both the veterinarians at Texas A&M
University, (they actually gave me the base formula for an electrolyte for
working horses), and Shelly Bridges-top Endurance rider and trainer, she has
ridden on a few Pan Am teams, and they both agreed that sodium bicarb in a
small percentage was much more beneficial to working horses than harmful.
(This is how I formulated my percentages for Equi-ade, which is 6.5%). I
have been using Equi-ade on my own horses (as guinea pigs!) here in Texas for
a year now, with very good results. Although I train dressage horses, I
can promise you that here in theTexas summers, they really have tough workouts
and sweat in great amounts. What you would want to avoid in a very hot
sweaty horse is large amounts of sodium bicarb, like the type that might be in
a paste? (I would have to compare the percentages to know that for
sure.) I had another endurance rider ask this same question a few weeks
ago. I told her what I told you but suggested she should consult
with her own veterinarian on the matter, as I think each horse owner should
decide what they think is best for them. I did ship out the three
Equi-ade containers to you today, so If you want, you can keep these if you
feel comfortable with this. If you decide you do not want to use the
Equi-ade with the sodium bicarb, just e mail me and let me know. I can
make you up Equi-ade bicarb free! If you would send back the other box I
will send you three more that are bicarb free and reimburse your shipping from
the other box. Hopes this help answer your questions. Take
care- sincerely-Jennifer Weems /Hot Pony Products
