Sweaty horse.. Salt and Electrolytes?

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exracemad

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My mare is quite hyped and it doesn't take her much for her to be all sweaty.. and i mean from her ears to the top of her bum are soaking!

Anyway, as it is starting to get warmer (fingers crossed!!), i'm starting to worry about her dehydrating, shall I give her salt? or some electrolytes?

As we are going to hopefully start competing and getting out more, I thought elecrolytes would be usefull under these circumstances?

Thanks for any help :)
 
Electrolytes are generally better even tho they are more expensive. They provide a balanced salt profile, and good ones will provide some B vitamins and glucose which all helps with the horse's recovery. I find that a 2kg bucket of the baileys aqua aide lasts me a year (using 2x a week all winter and 1 or 2 times a week in summer)

The best way to provide them is in water (usually one or 2 measures in a bucket), otherwise in wet feed such as sugarbeet is a good option.

Once they get used to the taste most horses will take them from the bucket when offered (IME anyway).

If she really won't take them, then give her a salt lick so that she can sort out the salts herself!

Oh, one more thing... once you've found one she likes try not to change it!!
 
I'd get a proper electrolyte supplement for her feed.

I was pretty blase about electrolytes, but had an interesting discussion with my lecturer about electrolytes etc. at a cellular level, and he pretty much said that after strenuous exercise it can take days or even weeks (depending on the condition of the animal, feed etc.) for eveything to balance itself out again, despite the animal appearing normal. By supplementing electrolytes we can help to minimise the time it takes for the horse to recover fully.

I'm now going to be a lot more 'on the ball' with the electrolytes, especially at competitions and on hot days!
 
I buy a 3 kilo tub from horse first called heavy sweat, pure electrolytes with no dextrose and fillers. I feed a little every day and particularly after a long ride. They dont need the added sugars, you need to ensure that sodium, chloride, potassium and a little magnesium are included in the ingredients. My guys probably dont get much salt as they are on restricted grazing so check whats in your feed also together with hay etc.
 
Rosie92 said:
I'd just use supplements for her feed, but do u not want anything to calm your horse down abit, so she doesn't end up in this state?!
Click to expand...


I have tried a calmer, and it didn't seem to touch her. Although mum is interested in trying a new one on her, it just all becomes very expensive, when just working on improving her flat work is calming her more than the calmer did.

Today, just having done 2 trots, and the rest of the ride spent on the buckle walking (massive step forward for us), she was still sweaty. She hadn't jogged, she hadn't got all stressed. I am trying my best with what is, as my instructor said, a 'wired' horse, that unfortunatly gets very hot, very easily.
 
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