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Re: [RC] Elytes - Truman PrevattBruce Weary wrote:This discussion is interesting, and shows that it is increasingly difficult to make valid conclusions about electrolyte use. There are so many variables and conflicting anecdotal experiences, that trial and error and drawing on the consistent successful experience of high mileage riders seems as good as any strategy. Some other things to consider are the fact that the post-mortems on more than 90% of the horses that have died in the last few years at endurance rides showed no evidence of ulcers.That is an interesting fact. Given a number I have heard that 50% endurance horses have ulcers at random 50% of the dead horses should have ulcers. If 10 died an none have ulcers the probability of that happening at rand would be about 0.1%. Even if it were only 25% that had ulcers the probability of 10 dead an none had ulcers would be 5.6% So that says that either our estimate of ulcers is way over rated or that ulcers don't put the horse at risk or maybe ulcers cause pulls before the horse is stressed the the level of getting into trouble. I think that fact is fairly important - although I have no idea what it means. I think there is too much generalization based on limited observations of one of two great horses or limited experience in varied conditions. Just because horse X rode 5 50 mile rides in 5 days in 90 plus degrees in 4 hours each day and didn't use electrolytes does not mean every rider should try that. I personally would not do a ride without some electrolyte supplementation. On an LD I probably would not bother to syringe it - unless it was brutally hot and humid. I would, however, have it in the feed. I don't use the same amount of electrolytes in the West as I do in the East - no need to. I wouldn't use as much in 50 degree low humidity as I would in 90 degrees and 80% humidity. Can you give too much - maybe yes maybe no a lot depends on the horse. Can you give too little - I think so particularly if the weather is hot and muggy or even cool and muggy. The key for every rider is to know your horse and until you know your horse - take it easy. There was an interesting study a few years back at Middleburg VA. It was a research ride. It wasn't AERC sanctioned for some reason. The question being discussed was the type of electrolytes - precisely how much potassium is required. Some time back I read a blurb on the results. From my memory horses that went faster didn't really need the potassium in the electrolytes. However, those that went slower and were out there longer benefited with more potassium in the electrolytes. This is what I think I remember reading - maybe someone who was involved could chime in here. There has been tons of work on electrolytes at rides. A lot of riders have participated. We do have a lot of data out there - but somehow the results from that volume of work gets lost. For the new rider the answer does not rest on ridecamp. The best people to ask are the vets at the rides in the region you are riding. They know the conditions in the area you are riding and will be more than happy to help you. Truman -- “Since when have we Americans been expected to bow submissively to authority and speak with awe and reverence to those who represent us?” Justice William O. Douglas =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 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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