Re: Baking Soda/electrolytes

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/3/99 9:13:31 AM Pacific Standard Time, 4horn@home.com
writes:

<< At the DVE ride I saw a person preparing electrolytes for their horse
 and adding baking soda to the mixture. They ended up getting 1st or 2nd
 and Best Condition for that day. I thought sodium bicarbonate was a Big
 NO-NO. I know I've heard the scoop before but I can't remember why. Can
 anyone jar my brain?? >>

Baking soda is certainly counterproductive, as it is alkaline, and endurance
horses are already pushing themselves into both metabolic and respiratory
alkalosis.  In the above case, though, I would submit that at a multi-day, the
horse likely is not stressed to the max, despite that placement, and also,
this is winter, so the metabolic alkalosis from chloride loss will not be
anywhere near as significant as it would be in hot weather.  We certainly saw
a lot of baking soda administered in the "old days" when we didn't understand
WHY it worked on race horses (combats lactic acid) and WHY it was
counterproductive to endurance horses (no lactic acid to combat and enhances
the problems our horses have) and MOST of our horses survived and did ok in
spite of it.  It just goes to show how tough our horses are, when we can do so
many things wrong and still get pretty good performance from them.  Likely the
rider in your example could do with less electrolytes for the horse, if they
would cut out the baking soda, though...

Heidi