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[RC] Competing without elytes - Patti KuvikIs it the "elytes" or the sugar that causes the "instant" perkiness? Most elytes contain some form of easily abosorbable sugar - dextrose, sucrose, etc - both to improve palatability and to enhance the absorbtion of the other ingredients. (See Karen's elyte comparasion chart) http://members.tripod.com/ridephotos/electrolytes/compare.html But, while the elytes (mineral salts) themselves need to be absorbed via some farther stage of the GI tract, some of the sugar can begin to be directly absorbed into the blood stream starting at the mouth - much as a diabetic might use a glucose gel to counter low blood sugar. The elytes, meanwhile, may undergo some delay before actually finding their way into the bloodstream (if they get there at all - http://www.questhealthlibrary.com/minerals/absorbtion ). The brain is a huge consumer of glucose and obtains it directly from the blood. If liver stores of glycogen are depleted http://web.indstate.edu/thcme/mwking/glycogen.html, the brain may be the first to go - and the first thing to perk up when supplemental glucose is supplied. I struggle through figuring out metabolic pathways (and envy those steel-trap minds that can keep this at their fingertips) but I do feel that those who can cover the distance without elytes do so because they have good reserves either by design (analyzing rations and optimizing supplementation) or intuition (the old cowboy way of feeding a variety of forages from different growing regions that ulitmately provide a balance) and provide adequate salt on a daily basis http://www.saltinstitute.org/47u.html so their horses never start out borderline or depleted. Nutrition seems such a fundamental part of endurance - as much as conditioning, saddle fit, hoof care, etc - it doesn't have to be rocket science but, would anyone blindly go to a tough 50 without conditioning and a proper fitting saddle or loose shoes? Then why do it without understanding a horse's basic fuel needs? (Everyone who knows how much magnesium is in 5 lbs of alfalfa hay raise their hands : ) While much of the "research" is mind boggleing - both to find and to read - much is available in "understandable" form and is equally useful for the backyard pony to the elite athlete. http://www.ker.com/library/advances/124.pdf for example. The KER library has a wealth of usable info http://www.ker.com/library/index.asp as do the many vet school websites http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ceh/default.htm http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Equine/graduate/orthopedics/current.html and IVIS (International Veterinary Information Service) http://www.ivis.org/home.asp and Dr. Susan G's good basic info on her website http://www.shady-acres.com/susan/index.shtml The Equine Cushing's list, while aimed at metabolically compromised horses has a multitude of Dr. Kellon's insightful articles which are applicable to any horse in the files http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EquineCushings/ Patti Kuvik Vail AZ From: Chris Paus <paus@xxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: Re: [RC] Competing without elytes To use or not to use e-lytes is a personal decision one based on what is best for the horse, not what >everyone else is doing, I hope. I'm guessing that most of the lyte-less riders are in the west, where the climate is drier, or >northeast where it is cooler (compared to where I live). My guess is that most central region and >southern region riders will use elytes. The heat and humidity are killers. As far as elytes being caustic, I don't think so. My horse Star has literally grabbed chunks of >PerformnWin out of my hands and gobbled it down before I could get it in a syringe. Apparently, >he knew what he needed and went for it. I've gone out to my pasture on hot humid days and offered some elyte powder and the horses have >licked it out of my hands and come back for more, so my guess is it wasn't that caustic to them or >they surely wouldn't have come back for seconds. I have seen vets here at rides administer some Lyte Now to horses that were on the verge of >trouble and seen with my own eyes, the horses perk back up. Does every horse in every ride need electrolytes? Probably not. But it's also not a good idea to say >that no horse needs them. I think it depends tremendously on the conditions in which the horse is >being ridden and the amount of energy the horse has to expend. chris =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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