"...After decades of lectures from our doctors on how we should cut down on
our salt intake or we will die..."
There are a couple of things wrong with this
statement.
1. Horses are not even in the same genus as
humans. While all mammals share similar physiology, there are significant
differences.
2. Lower sodium to prevent or treat high blood
pressure has been overprescribed. Some people are sodium sensitive and
thus need to keep their intake down. This is most prevalent in those whose
ancestors came from sub-Saharan Africa. Apparently, they lived on a high
grain diet in a hot humid area so mutations that conserved sodium were favored
even if they could cause high blood pressure late in life (read after all their
children were born). If I remember correctly there is research that shows
that only a minority (25%, but don't quote me on that) of Caucasian people with
high blood pressure actually benefit from reduction in Sodium
intake.
3. When people are exercising hard, are in good
physical shape etc. they are encouraged to consume more sodium (and other
electrolytes) to prevent the same metabolic problems that our endurance horses
have.
All of which does not say how much electrolytes
should be given to a particular horse during or after a particular ride.
That apparently varies widely. I own a horse who consistantly exhibited
mild colic on Monday after a Saturday ride, until I started continuing his
electrolytes from Sat evening through Tuesday evening.
Ed
Ed & Wendy Hauser 2994 Mittower
Road Victor, MT 59875
