ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] Re: drinking on the trail and those not-so-desirable trace elements

[endurance] Re: drinking on the trail and those not-so-desirable trace elements

SSR@aol.com
Wed, 8 Nov 1995 00:34:28 -0500

This is a kind of variation upon the two threads of horses drinking on the
trail and
trace minerals that I'd like to toss out for comments from both the
scientists and
the rest of you.

Today I spent 10 hours in a meeting with epidemiologists and toxicologists
who were
explaining to me the specific health-related problems from low-level lead
poisoning.
Granted this was for areas surrounding Superfund sites, and we were talking
about
humans, but it was a little scary to see how very low levels of lead in the
bloodstream
can lead to increased incidences of some nasty diseases and conditions.

The question is, what's *in* that brackish puddle on the trail. Do horses
naturally
avoid contaminated water sources? I can remember *not* letting my horse
drink
at a puddle or two because I didn't like the rainbow haze in the water, but
if it's
the horse's choice, will he refuse to drink it...?

Scott