In a message dated 3/27/2006 8:31:01 A.M. Mountain Standard Time, heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
If a
horse eats voraciously, and drinks readily, and is going at speeds to
which he is conditioned, and is not being ridden past what he has been
conditioned to do, and has no pain issues that one can find, but still
tends to lag toward the ends of rides or have pulse issues, then I would
certainly look at e-lytes as being his issue, and would
use them.
If any of the other aspects above are issues, then
e-lytes would not be the first thing that crosses my mind.
Thanks, Heidi.
So,
1. Horse eating
voraciously.....check
2. Drinks
readily....check
3. Going at speeds which
replicate conditioning speeds....check
4. No obvious pain
issues....check
5. Hanging pulse,
malaise, lack of interest, dark urine, etc.....ELECTROLYTE MANAGEMENT just
might be the issue.
If condition 2 presents, in that he DOESN'T DRINK READILY, does one
ASSUME that electrolytes are an issue, or does one move to condition 3 and
CONSIDER that slowing down might be a consideration if the horse and rider
have gotten sucked up in "get 'er done", or maybe condition 4?
THINKING RIDERS are the key. There is no AUTOMATIC "cause and
effect" here...rider awareness still becomes the key, as with most
things "endurance".
