what are electrolytes??

[iloveshearer]

....? Also what sort of horses are they used for and what do they do? thanks!!:D

[eventerbabe]

electrolytes replace salts that are lost due to sweating and hard work. my dads friend has a driving pony and he gets electrolytes after he's been competing. i feed toby on them in the summer when he's working really hard and sweating a lot.

we were also advised to put bonnie onto them after she became dehydrated and got an impaction colic. so any horse can be fed on them :)

[Harvey99]

Electrolytes can be thought of as minerals and salts, (specifically ions if you remeber your chemistry:p ).
In the body (horse or human), the major electrolytes are sodium, potassium,
chloride, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, phosphate and sulphate.
Electrolytes are important because they are what the cells in the body (eg nerves, heart, muscle etc) use to maintain voltages across their cell membranes and to carry electrical impulses (e.g. nerve impulses, muscle contractions). In a healthy horse the kidneys maintain the electrolyte concentrations in the blood at a constant level. When a horse exercises heavily they will lose electrolytes in their sweat (especially sodium and potassium). Addition of electrolytes in the form of feed or in the horses water is necessary where excessive fluid loss occurs (gastrointestinal upset etc.). Some people feed electrolytic supplements for other reasons such as a calming supplement (magnesium is thought by some to be helpful). A blood or urine test can help to determine whether your horse is deficient in any of these electrolytes and your vet can advise on a supplement if necessary.

:)

[iloveshearer]

thanks thats what i wanted to know :D Shearers owner has suggested sprinkling them on his feed because he is working quite hard and sweating a lot.

[Wally]

Put them in the feed, not the water, I have found that endurance horses won't drink the water if they are in it and end up more dehydrated in the long run.

I don't blame them either, electrolyte water tastes revolting!

We don't bother with them as they graze on and near beaches where they get enough from the sea water.

[becs]

electrolyte water tastes revolting lol, last tiime I was sick, the Dioralyte was so revolting i decided I'd rather throw up for a few more days... so great idea putting them in feed.