Re: Electrolyes

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-10-28 15:44:23 EST, Leigh331@aol.com writes:

<< <<  venture to guess that there are very few riders in the East that don't
use
  rountine electrolyte supplementation as part of there routine.  While I am
  sure one can over electrolyte, the price for under electrolyting is not one
  that I am willing to pay.  >>
 
 Since I am a career LD rider, you may not even listen to what I have to say
on
 this subject. It is short and sweet. I use electrolytes on myself at humid
 rides and I can tell a big difference in how I function and how I feel after
 the ride. I think the horse is the same way. I always use electrolytes in
 humid weather while riding. In fact I use them before, during and after the
 ride.
 Leigh Preddy SE
  >>

Keep in mind that horses AND people are individually different.  Leigh, I know
many people who use electrolytes just like you do, and would not do well
without them.  I personally would be off puking in the bushes, and in fact,
have to be very careful even eating salty stuff like potato chips under those
conditions.  I have to drink more milk, and I know that would send others off
to the bushes, too.  I have seen horses get physically ill and suffer severely
diminished gut sounds from what would seem like fairly minimal doses of
electrolytes--and yes, the problem is repeatable in these horses at subsequent
rides, and they do great without them.  I know others that have to have MEGA-
electrolytes to do more than just a minimal job.  Of course, weather is a
factor, as Truman suggested earlier, and knowing HOW the weather affects your
individual horse is part of knowing your horse!  Although I have not ridden in
a lot of humidity, I HAVE ridden in some, and have certainly ridden in 100+
heat on several occasions.  The particular horses that I ride have continued
to eat well, drink copiously, maintain A's (with occasional B's) on gut sounds
and hydration, and have never exhibited any particular need for electrolytes,
other than a free-choice salt block.  My stallion Junior was blood tested and
weighed on one ride that was extremely hot and moderately humid--we won the 75
(not much competition, granted, but we had a pretty decent time, nonetheless)
and took BC, he only lost 35 pounds (can't remember if that was the ride that
he weighed 985 at the start or 950 at the start) which considering he eats
about 40 pounds of hay the day before the ride isn't a lot of weight.  His
bloodwork certainly showed some diminished electrolytes, but nothing
extraordinary--certainly nothing that would make me think that he was in any
great need for supplementation.  No longer have it in front of me, but can
remember being quite satisfied with it at the time.  Of course, he is like a
Hoover vacuum cleaner at the checks and at every other opportunity--no blade
of grass, flake of hay, overturned pile of someone's left-over mash, or
anything else remotely edible is safe when this boy is around!  The bottom
line is that ALL HORSES ARE DIFFERENT, and you have to know your own, no
matter what the weather, the speed, or anything else.

Heidi