Electro-Salts

Tempi

Tempi

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Just wondering who feeds there comp horses electro-salts, and if you feed them all the time or just after competitions?

Archie wont drink when we are out competing (stress/nerves related) and obviously after 7hrs in the lorry on saturday (2 1/2 hrs each way and 2hrs hanging around), plus doing two dressage tests and two warmup sessions i was a bit worried about him to say the least. But he got home, munched his hay, had a drink and that was that. I topped up his water before i left and he'd only drunk about half his tub (he has a large tub thingy) when i arived Sunday morning.

So as im paranoid mummy i was thinking about getting him Baileys Aqua-Aide just to give him in his feed after competing? Is this a good idea? I dont want to feed it to him all the time - just something for him to have after competitions.
 
I give the Baileys one after she has competed/worked really hard and got sweaty. Again Corroy won't drink away from home either
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well i sometimes give some the night before we go out and then when we get back and it seems to work ell, but i think its a bit excessive to be giving them all the time.But then in sayin that if they are in hard work and compete every weekend then i can see why it could be useful.

millie doesnt always drink at competitions but she normally sticks her tongue in it as if too cool it down:) i think shes half cat as she likes to lap the water up:):p
 
ah, thats a good idea - so the night before a competition and then the night after.

Im not really fussed about giving them to him after hes sweaty at home as im happy that he drinks adequalty - i know they replace lost salts and minerals aswell, but i just dont see the point if they are drinking properly and have a balanced diet.

Id forgotten Corroy wont drink out either!

Blossy didnt to start with, but she will now.
 
Yep, I think also you can give them too much so have to be careful. I have to put mine in a wet feed as she is so fussy I am scared that she won't drink her water with it in there.
 
Does he get salt in his feeds at home??
I think if he does then he will be OK without anything else. If he doesn't then might be a good idea if you can find one that he likes.

One of our mares drinks at comps, the other doesn't so I know how you feel.

Good luck.

FIona
 
HI P_G... Grace won't drink when she is out so I started putting an apple in the bucket and she would bob about for that and at least get some water while she was trying to get it out. I know it is not the normal amount she would drink in a day, but at least she is getting something.

I tried Grace on Apple Lites and she just wouldn't touch her tea at all
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I use the NAF electro lytes. Have usually added the powder to wet feed 2 days before an ODE (or if it's hot and it's a normal SJ show or something etc.). I have started using the new NAF liquid electro stuff now though which is much better as I can put it in water.

However NONE of mine drink at competitions either!! BUT I always always take a bucket of sugar beet with me (I make it up the night before, 1 scoop of sugar beet shreds filled up with water and the electrolyte liquid - in one of those plastic tubs which have a lid (like horse supplement tubs) so it doesnt spill in the trailer). Works a treat, never have a problem with them not drinking now, plus they get the electrolytes at the same time. I can pour some of the sugar beet stuff into a normal bucket and dilute a bit more with water or if they're being picky that day then I also have the option of giving them the wet sugar beet (rather than just the SB water) which they always eat. Definately recommend it. Or if you have speedi beet, you could always take a bag of it along with you and add it to water there if you need to.

You can try adding electolytes to their drinking water, but TBH Ive found mine very rarely touch it! Unless of course its mixed with sugar beet water. You can give him electrolytes in his feed after, but TBH Id be wary since he's not drinking much along with it. You'd need to make his feed very wet.
 
How can he not like apples
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Grace didn't know what to do with them really when I first got her, she kept running away from her feed bucket everytime she touched it
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my horse is really fussy with his food and the only electrolytes he will eat in his food is the one that horse health sell i think its called liquidlite, i always give electrolytes the night before, night of and the following night of an event. i too have trouble with him drinking water at an event, but i have found he will drink straight when i get back from xc, not when he's puffing obviously, but usually by the time you have walked back to the lorry, i take off his bridle and give him a drink, most times this has been succesfull.
 
The best Electrolyte you can use is Apple Lytes by Equine America. Most horses, even the fussy ones can usually be tempted by them, or alternatively with very watery sugar beet.

I will probably be shot down in flames for saying this, but there is no need to give electrolytes the night before (unless they have been worked strenuously of course) as they will just wee the additional salt out of the system potentially causing more of a dehydration worry. They should normally be given just before strenuous exercise, during and after. Anything prior to this is a waste of time and money.

Also mixing with baby food and syringing is a good method
 
Mine always get electrolytes in a feed after an event and/or strenous work.

Im quite lucky that they both drink when they are out
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