More from Hollander's book: Chapter, "Electrolytes Reconsidered"
"Sodium and potassium should be in a ratio of ...3 parts sodium to 1 part potassium.
If a horse is consuming regular salt free-choice, you don't know how much he eats, and therefore his need for potassium. By using Mortons's Lite Salt (available in any grocery),the horse will be sure to gain an adequate supply of potassium, since Lite Salt is about half potassium chloride."
Feed free choice mineral mix in a loose form, not a block (this makes it easier to consume), and maintain a one to one ratio between calcium and phosphorus. Purina 12:12 Mineral can be the base mix. Add Lite Salt, which should be 1/8th of the total mix. This is the formula to use if you are feeding grass hay. "If you are using alfalfa hay, which is rich in calcium, use Purina High Phos[phorous] or Purina 6:12, which has twice as much phosphorous as calcium. It is desirable to have a 1 to 2 ratio in this situation. Again, add lite salt.
"Depending on where you live, it will probably be necessary to supplement selenium. Remember, though, that selenium is a mineral that accumulates . . . and is toxic. . . . One of the early signs of selenium poisoning is loss of hair.
Terry
> Subject: [RC] PLEASE discuss potassium article - kathy swigart/carrie > Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2008 08:17:07 -0800 > From: carrie.kitley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > I can't recall for sure, but I think I read somewhere that alfalfa is > particularly high in Potassium (correct me if I'm wrong). Therefore, if > you have a horse that is primarily fed alfalfa, would you supplement > with e-lytes during rides? I typically put a dose of the powdered in > with beet pulp the day before a ride and the morning of. My horse > usually doesn't drink until about mile 18, but last ride she came up a > bit dehydrated, but otherwise in good shape. > Carrie > > Angie said: > > Also, I doubt very seriously they had any idea > ?what the two control groups were *eating* during > ?their rides and I would think that could have an impact. > > There is a lot of potassium in most hays, so yes horses may be getting a > lot of > potassium without being supplemented with it through an oral electrolyte > mix. > > Additionally, hyperkalemia (too much potassium in the blood) has some > pretty > unpleasant effects on muscle function. > > Personally, I don't go out of my way to add potassium to my endurance > horse's > ration at an edurance ride as generally I am more concerned with too > much than > not enough. > > kat > Orange County, Calif. > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- > 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!! > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > -------- > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > -------- > > Previous by date: [RC] Snow Day With Jose - Merri Melde > Next by date: Re: [RC] Doing the right thing (was: Desperate times) - > Carrie Kitley > Previous by thread: [RC] Snow Day With Jose > Next by thread: [RC] [Consider This] Australian Equine Endurance - > Summising HorseWelfare > > > > Carrie Kitley > 30th Medical Group, Vandenberg AFB > DMLSS Database Sustainment Specialist (DSS) > CACI International Inc, www.caci.com > DSN: 276-1077 > Fax: 805-606-1179 > > > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- > 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!! > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
