Electrolyte supplements should be given to horses when the temperature (F) and the % humidity equals or exceeds 150. Supplementation should begin 2 hours prior to exercise and continue every 2 hours during exercise. During exercise, electrolytes are lost in the sweat. The most critical electrolytes are sodium, chloride, potassium, and calcium. Excessive loss of sodium, chloride, and potassium will cause fatigue. Excessive loss of calcium will cause muscle soreness sometimes associated with tying-up syndrome. A skin pinch test should be used to determine dehydration. Failure of skin to return to its original state after pinching within 5 seconds indicates a need for electrolyte supplementation.
These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution
Welcome
eXtension is an interactive learning environment delivering the best, most researched knowledge from the smartest land-grant university minds across America.
Have a question? Try asking one of our Experts
Explain when and why electrolyte supplementation is required for performance horses.
Last Updated: July 24, 2006
Have a specific question? Try asking one of our Experts
Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.
This resource area was created by the: Horses community
