Feeding Electrolytes and reduced performance.

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KatB

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When do you feed your competition horses electrolytes? And can they have a noticeable impact on performance?

My mare has access to a salt lick, and gets a half measure of electrolytes the night before competing, half a scoop in the morning in a wet breakfast, and another half scoop the evening after the competition as she is only SJing and not working overly hard. We only ever added electrolytes in the feed of the eventers the evening after they had worked hard... and they always got salt added to their feeds.

Would I be better off adding salt to her feed daily? :) And is it better to use electrolytes in liquid form, or salts?

Thoughts appareciated :)
 
I'd stick with what you're doing! I think it's a waste feeding them all the time if the horse doesn't sweat on a daily basis, all that'll happen is the electrolytes will be excreted......so it's a bit like 'p'ing money down the drain'!!!!!
Re liquid or salts, I would imagine liquid would be absorbed quicker?
Enough of my ramblings! Hope you're well?!
 
Hi,

I feed a small amount of salt every day to working horses. I use normal and low salt as I have been told by a vet that is better than just table salt and very close to what you get with electrolytes.

I use to feed salt the morning of an event but I read about a year ago not to do this as if they do not drink much during the day than this can increase dehydration. So I feed the night before and afterwards.

The info about is based on what I have been told / read an not on scientific research so I stand to be corrected!!!!
 
I'm a bit new to the use of electrolytes, so will be watching this thread with interest, but I have heard from a rather good equine vet that is it better to add them to a wet feed than to a horse's water (as is often instructed on the pack). Doesn't really answer your post but just thought it might be useful info!!!! :D
 
Hmm, interesting :) I may start feeding salt then... I never have a problem with her drinking at competitons, she is very good about it, so I would almost want to encourage this more... I have read that too, hence just using half measures, and making sure she has plenty of moisture in her feed. It is high fibre too, so should help store liquid in her gut a bit better... It was just mentioned to me electrolyte inbalance may contribute to low stamina levels..
 
You are correct, low electrolyte levels can contribute towards low energy levels, the horse then has to use energy to replace them itself. If you feed them every day, then the theory is that the horse has a constant source of electrolytes, so is not in a cycle of using then replacing, meaning you will have sustained energy levels rather than peaks & troughs. Horses do not just have to sweat to use them up, they will be used during travelling etc. Good branded electrolytes will contain more than just the salts & minerals themselves, but also things like B vitamins for the metabolism. Hope that helps
 
Correct me if I am wrong but I was always told NOT to feed them before the event (eg before they have sweated) because you are effectively dehydrating a hydrated horse.

I wouldn't feed them the night before and the morning of as they are only to replenish lost salt. I would give them after, then that should be enough. i

If she has access to a lick she will use then when she needs it so her normal daily salt levels will be fine she will only need a 'top up' after she has worked really hard...

That makes sense to me anyhoo..... but I could be wrong.... :)
 
That makes sense Chloe. The only reason why I add them then is because she doesnt already get salt in her feed normally. I am probably better off giving a full measure the night before, and not one in the morning, so she's got all night to drink? I was told by someone (and I can't remember who, hence the post!) to give them salts the night before to make sure they are fully hydrated before travelling...
 
If you have a look at the 3rd para below the 'Preparing for an Event' in the link below it talks about 'pre-loading' with electrolytes so the horse can call on its reserves. (for some reason I can't cut and paste the words!)

http://www.mkec.co.uk/page/images/threedayevent/3debooklet.pdf

I did this last time I did the MK 3DE (in 2005!) and think I might have over done it, as Ludo had a thin crust of salt on his hair when he dried even though he was thoroughly washed down after the XC!!
 
Chloe_GHE said:
Correct me if I am wrong but I was always told NOT to feed them before the event (eg before they have sweated) because you are effectively dehydrating a hydrated horse.

I wouldn't feed them the night before and the morning of as they are only to replenish lost salt. I would give them after, then that should be enough. i

If she has access to a lick she will use then when she needs it so her normal daily salt levels will be fine she will only need a 'top up' after she has worked really hard...

That makes sense to me anyhoo..... but I could be wrong.... :)
Click to expand...
&

But the horse doesn't only lose salt, he also loses other minerals such as potassium, magnesium & calcium, these will not be found in a plain salt lick, this will contain sodium chloride only. Used correctly as I explained in my previous post, you would want to avoid only using them to replenish lost electrolytes as you risk reduced energy levels while the horse burns energy replacing what he has used, you would ideally want an even level all the time. The OP says her horse suffers from reduced energy levels, so my first suggestion would be electrolyte imbalance. Clearly not all horses will have a problem with this, & Chloe yours is obviously doing fine from your lovely posts on here, so no citicism of your method intended. Just trying to explain a bit of the theory really.
 
I was also taught to use electrolytes for several days before the horse was due to partake in whatever strenuous exercise. The powder was to be added to very very wet food (think soup like not just dampened), apparently this is to avoid dehydration. By using them for 4 or 5 days before an event in this manner you had more chance of the horse arriving at the event hydrated and with a reserve to call upon. I also continue to feed them for 3 or 4 days after the event.

Earlier this year when we had that prolonged hot spell I was feeding electrolytes on a daily basis to the horses in work.
 
kizzywiz said:
&

But the horse doesn't only lose salt, he also loses other minerals such as potassium, magnesium & calcium, these will not be found in a plain salt lick, this will contain sodium chloride only. Used correctly as I explained in my previous post, you would want to avoid only using them to replenish lost electrolytes as you risk reduced energy levels while the horse burns energy replacing what he has used, you would ideally want an even level all the time. The OP says her horse suffers from reduced energy levels, so my first suggestion would be electrolyte imbalance. Clearly not all horses will have a problem with this, & Chloe yours is obviously doing fine from your lovely posts on here, so no citicism of your method intended. Just trying to explain a bit of the theory really.
Click to expand...

That is interesting....I must look into it further really as it might be of some use to my boys. I don't use additional salt or electrolytes just an antiacid supplement atm.
 
I always add "Travel Mix" from Trinity Consultants to my horses feeds 3-4 days before a competition.

I add salt to my horses feeds (Endurance Horses) every single night. If the horses have worked and sweated I will add an electrolyte that evening.

Horses must have and drunk water before they are given any form of electrolytes. Giving electrolytes before a horse has drunk will cause reverse osmosis causing further dehydration.
 
CS gets a 1/4 measure every day as wont use a salt lick, but licks the soil, on this tiny dose of electrolytes he has stopped doing that altogether.
gets a full measure after an excessively sweaty work out/show etc. always make sure he's had a good drink before he gets feed (with electrolytes in)
 
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