Oral Electrolyte and Water Supplementation in Horses

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Heat stress results in increased sweating and respiratory rate. Sweating, especially, results in dehydration unless effective hydration strategies are employed. Effective hydration requires the supplementation of both electrolytes together with adequate amounts of water. Dehydration impairs performance, both physical and mental, and places both the horse and rider at risk of injury/death. Horses require a lot of water. Horses require a lot of electrolytes. Horses require the right balance of electrolytes in order to optimize neuromuscular function. You can lead a horse to water and it will drink; patience is required to train horses to do this. A hydrated horse is a healthy horse. ABSTRACT: Horses that sweat for prolonged periods lose considerable amounts of water and electrolytes. Maintenance of hydration and prevention of dehydration requires that water and electrolytes are replaced. Dehydration is common in equine disciplines and can be avoided, thus promoting equine wellness, improved performance and enhanced horse and rider safety. Significant dehydration occurs through exercise or transport lasting one hour or more. Oral electrolyte supplementation is an effective strategy to replace water and electrolytes lost through sweating. The stomach and small intestine serve as a reservoir for uptake of water and electrolytes consumed 1 to 2 h prior to exercise and transport. The small intestine is the primary site of very rapid absorption of ions and water. Water and ions absorbed in the small intestine are taken up by muscles, and also transported via the blood to the skin where they serve to replace or augment the losses of water and ions in the body. Effective electrolyte supplements are designed to replace the proportions of ions lost through sweating; failure to do so can result in electrolyte imbalance. Adequate water must be consumed with electrolytes so as to maintain solution osmolality less than that of body fluids in order to promote gastric emptying and intestinal absorption. The electrolyte supplement should taste good, and horses should be trained to drink the solution voluntarily prior to and during transport, and prior to and after exercise.