Page 33 - April 2017 Thoroughbred Highlight

In fact, the ingesta found in the large intestine acts as a reservoir of electrolytes for the horse to draw upon when needed. However, once the horse starts sweating a lot, whether it is with exercise or exposure to high heat, the reservoir may not be adequate in supplying suf cient electrolytes and, in this case,
the horse will bene t from supplemental electrolytes. The quantity of electrolyte needed depends on how much the horse is sweating and for how long. Horses undergoing prolonged exercise like endurance or event horses may particularly bene t from electrolyte supplementation.
Electrolyte loss can result in dehydration. Testing for dehydration is simple: pinch a fold of skin over the shoulder and observe how slowly it returns into place. If the skin does not snap back quickly, measures should be taken to rehydrate the horse. Signs of more severe dehydration are unsteady gait, uncoordinated muscle contractions, trembling, and muscle weakness. The horse may lose interest in drinking even when dehydrated, because when both water and electrolytes are lost, the thirst response (the physiological trigger that tells a horse when to drink) malfunctions. Electrolytes are only part of the picture of uid balance. Water is necessary and should
not be overlooked when offering salt or electrolyte supplements; ideally, water should be available free choice so that the horse can drink when thirst hits.
When the horse is losing signi cant amounts of sweat, supplemental electrolytes can be given. A well-formulated electrolyte supplement should be mostly sodium chloride (salt). Other ingredients will be potassium chloride, calcium, magnesium, and other trace minerals. Typically, a little sugar is added to improve the palatability and was previously believed to improve the absorption of sodium, but that has since been found to be not completely true in the horse. If there is added sugar, it should not constitute more than 10% of the mixture, so as not to take away from the amount of electrolyte in the product. Most electrolytes can be mixed into a horse’s feed, mixed as a concentrated solution in a syringe, or added
to water. When giving electrolytes in the feed or concentrated electrolytes in a syringe, it is extremely important to have free-choice access to water available so that the horse has something to drink when the electrolytes make it thirsty. Caution should be taken if adding electrolytes to the horse’s water; it is important to provide an additional bucket of plain water in case the horse refuses the electrolyte-laden water but needs to drink. Most horses have to learn to drink electrolytes in the water, and it is not usually something the horse will take to immediately.
Choose electrolyte supplements formulated by
reputable companies. Kentucky Equine Research (KER) has developed several electrolyte supplements, including Restore® SR and Restore Paste. KER
also created Race RecoveryTM speci cally for high- performance horses given furosemide.
Proper use of electrolyte supplementation can help maintain correct uid balance in the horse when dietary electrolyte replenishment is too slow; so it
is worth guring out the best method of delivery of electrolytes for each horse before there is a critical moment of need.
Article reprinted courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research (KER). Visit equinews.com for the latest in equine nutrition and management, and subscribe to The Weekly Feed to receive these articles directly (equinews.com/newsletters).
Taking the Reins
Pictured here from left to right: Tony Sipkas, Justin Wilcox, Chris Peatling and Bob Peatling of Royal Crown Feeds Inc.
Better known as Bob the Feed Man, Bob Peatling has been synonymous with feed at Woodbine for more than 40 years. Looking to eventually retire Bob handed over the reins to his nephew Chris in 2015.
Now operating as Royal Crown Feeds Inc., Chris is driven to maintain the dedication and quality of service that Bob has been giving his many clients throughout the years.
Royal Crown’s main supplier is Brooks Feeds however they will deliver all available feeds as supplies, shavings, vitamins, electrolytes and more directly to the tack rooms of trainers at Woodbine.
Thoroughbred Highlight - Page 33 - April 2017