Dehydrated horse guides? What are Nutrients? Nutrients are compounds essential to life and health. They provide energy, the building blocks for repair and growth, and help regulate chemical processes.2 Horses need six main classes of nutrients: water, fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Most vitamins are found in green, leafy forages, while vitamin D is obtained from sunlight. Minerals are found in water, soil, rocks, and plants. They’re necessary to maintain body structure, electrolyte balance, nerve conduction, and muscle contraction in horses.
Further electrolyte supplementation is also necessary when large quantities need to be replenished. An electrolyte should be given in addition to daily salt rations and is indicated whenever a horse experiences prolonged or repeated sweating. Important: If you’re feeding an electrolyte in water, never add it to your horse’s only water supply. Always provide a separate fresh water source. Now that you know the importance of electrolytes, how do you choose a supplement that’s best for your horse? Look for these three important factors when selecting an electrolyte: High salt content. Sodium and chloride (salt) and potassium should be the main ingredients. Low sugar content. Sugar should not be the main ingredient. Electrolyte supplements shouldn’t contain more than 15% sugar. Isotonic to sweat. An isotonic supplement provides electrolytes in similar concentrations as sweat. According to this PubMed article, an isotonic sweat-like electrolyte is the best solution to rapidly restore fluid and plasma electrolyte imbalance in horses. Find additional details at https://www.redmondequine.com/red-edge/.
Being mired in cold temperatures or snow and ice doesn’t have to put a stop to quality time spent with your horse. It’s important to keep your horse moving during winter months, and time together will help you stay connected. So how do you safely navigate winter riding conditions? It requires a little more preparation, planning, and perhaps a shorter ride, but winter can still be a productive time for you and your horse. Here are some suggestions to help you weather the elements more comfortably and ensure your wintry ride is safe and enjoyable.
Another boarder’s mare, KC, was experiencing a bout of colic. She’d undergone the usual treatment and was receiving IV fluids because she wouldn’t drink. This had been going on for several hours and caused a lot of stress, especially to the owner, who felt helpless. I tried to be supportive and offered my friend one of my Redmond salt rocks. I told her how my horse loved them, and maybe it would encourage her mare to drink. She accepted my offer, figuring it couldn’t hurt, as she’d already unsuccessfully tried several things to help her horse, including molasses in her water and a wet mash. I brought a Redmond Rock on a Rope and hung it in KC’s stall. Immediately she started licking it. The horse owner was impressed because she said her horse normally doesn’t like salt licks. She was so thrilled she was in tears!
Try giving salt. Rub loose salt over your horse’s tongue. Some suggest this encourages horses to drink soon after. Of course, you should also always offer your horse a salt lick or loose mineral salt to replace electrolytes and trigger drinking. Add flavor to water. Horses prefer tastes that are sweet or salty. Consider adding a natural equine electrolyte drink mix like Redmond Rein Water or a sweetener like apple juice to your horse’s home water several days prior to a trip. Once you’ve arrived at your new destination, use the same electrolyte or flavor to mask the taste of unfamiliar water and give your horse a taste of home. See additional details on loose salt for horses.