The Right Balance of Mineral Salts for Heavy Sweating Horses

What is the best way of replenishing electrolytes?
If deficiencies or excesses of minerals are to be avoided, electrolytes should reflect the ratios as found naturally in horses' sweat.

While electrolyte minerals are present in most feeds and roughages, levels are insufficient to replace amounts lost through sweating, particularly in hot, humid conditions. Vitamite ReLyte fills the gap between the amount of electrolytes provided by feed and horses' overall needs and does so in the correct balance.

Administration can be directly into feed or when mixed with apple sauce or other sweetener it can be syringed. Mixed with fluid ReLyte may also be used as a drench.



When are electrolytes used?
As electrolytes cannot be stored in the body, daily administration is necessary and can be provided in morning and evening feeds or before and after strenuous exercise.

In addition, electrolytes should be provided whenever horses sweat heavily, during eventing, endurance trials or extended competition. The gut acts as a reservoir for water and electrolytes, so horses can be preloaded before travel or competition by administration two hours beforehand.

Electrolytes should not be added to drinking water!
If added to water, electrolytes prevent horses from regulating fluid levels. Thirst occurs when excess sodium is in the body and if sodium is also in the water horses cannot restore fluid balance - affected horses drink excessively but lose weight through water loss when excess sodium is excreted through the kidneys. This cycle of excessive drinking and ensuing weight loss is often incorrectly blamed on feed.

Water intake should not be restricted!
Regardless of whether electrolyte minerals are provided as salts, electrolytes or electrolyte minerals and regardless of administration method, clean drinking water must be available at all times. Electrolytes draw water into the gut and this can dehydrate muscle and blood water levels and upset fluid balance. Free access to water allows horses to regulate whole body hydration, helping prevent dehydration.

Using several different supplements often causes problems!
The use of several supplements to address individual electrolyte mineral requirements or random use of a supplement can lead to overlapping, excesses and deficiencies (with undesirable results) because the relationship between individual minerals is ignored.

For example, excess calcium is linked to hormone, blood pressure and muscle problems while an excess of sodium can cause the loss of potassium in urine, further upsetting 'balance'.

Other important nutrients can be affected by training and competition!
Performance horses and those in hard work have increased requirements for Thiamin and Riboflavin, which along with electrolytes are depleted by heavy sweating.

Thiamin is important for energy production and nerve function and horses being supplemented are generally less excitable. An adequate level of Riboflavin is important for oxygen transport throughout the body, maintenance of appetite and prevention of ulcers in the gut.

Vitamite ReLyte is a product of the latest scientific research into the needs of performance horses.
Formulated by veterinarians and nutritionists, it contains all the essential mineral salts in the right balance in addition to the important B Group Vitamins of Riboflavin and Thiamin.

ReLyte offers you the flexibility of adjusting your horse's intake according to work load, climate, weather and temperature while allowing your horse to more readily regulate water intake for effective rehydration.

NEW SCIENCE IN PERFORMANCE SUPPLEMENTS
(NB - Export only, not in NZ or Aust)