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Carolyn,
Some questions... How hot & how humid was it. The idea of high heat & high humidity differ depending on where you live & train. How fast was your pace?
If it was HOT & HUMID I'm not surprised that his respirations were up! Horses can cool themselves by panting when they over heat & evaporative cooling isn't working fast enough, or isn't working at all due to the humidity. Going easy to the next water hole & sponging was a WISE thing to do.
Horses new to the sport are often "up" for the whole ride in shorter distances and may not drink until the end, back at the comfort of their own area. This usually improves with time & experience. Horses that I used at longer distances learned to drink more frequently since they knew that they couldn't wait for the event to finish.
The answer to electrolyte use will vary... My routine is to give electrolytes the night before the ride to encourage drinking over night. Another dose before we leave. If he's drinking, I give a dose at each check. If he isn't drinking, I may still give some, but maybe a 1/2 - 1/4 dose. One horse wouldn't touch food or drink after getting lytes, another drank better if I rubbed his mouth with the 'lytes. You need to get to know the horse. Watch the locals who are competing along with you. They have learned to deal with the conditions and can help you a lot.
Linda Flemmer
-----Original Message-----
From: Beckstrom, Carolyn [mailto:Carolyn.Beckstrom@standardregister.com]
Hi,
I just completed my 3rd 25 mile CTR last weekend and have a question
concerning electrolytes <SNIP> The ride had some long steep up and downs, it was a humid day and
my horse did great for about 20 miles. At the 16 mile vet check the vet
said he looked wonderful. But he hadn't drank at all yet. I gave him a
syringe of "lytes-now" hoping that would make him thirsty. Didn't work, and
then at about 20 miles he just crashed. He wanted to stop and was breathing
about 120 breaths/min. I let him walk for about ½ hour to the next water
stop where he STILL didn't drink but I sponged him off and he seemed to
recover quickly. he got his energy back and we trotted to the end. (he did
drink then) he finished with a pulse of 50 and resp of 10. Do you think the
electrolytes without water caused this? Or was he just overheated and
fatigued? Should you give electrolytes when your horse doesn't drink or
wait till he does then give them?
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