Re: [RC] Competing WITHOUT e-lytes - Cynthia Eyler
It's my understanding that the 'foam' is caused by
a surfactant in the sweat glands that has accumulated (has not been
continually flushed out during regular exercise). The lack of
foam, however, certainly does not necessarily indicate a fit horse by
endurance standards.
BTW, what do you consider moderate weather
conditions in terms of heat and humidity?
Cindy
----- Original Message -----
Liz Masters wrote: > If the
horse is sweating and losing salts, minerals etc. How are they >
replenished without the use of e-lytes?
A horse that has little
conditioning on him will sweat out large amounts of electrolytes.
The mixture of sweat, dust and electrolytes makes a thick, sudsy
lather. As your horse is conditioned, he will sweat more
efficiently, exuding less and less electrolytes. His "lather" will
gradually disappear and his sweat will appear clearer and more
watery. Does a horse's sweat ever get to the point that NO
electrolytes are lost? No, but a well-conditioned horse should be
able to successfully complete a 50-mile ride without electrolyte
supplimentation assuming moderate pace and moderate weather
conditions. That is not to say that horses wouldn't benefit from
some supplimentation, but if you have to give electrolytes just to get
your horse through the ride, then your horse is not properly conditioned for
the task. At the other extreme, if you have done your homework, don't
supplement and your horse top tens looking like he hadn't done any work at
all, perhaps the old "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
applies.
