The Right Balance of Mineral Salts for Heavy Sweating Horses

What are electrolyte minerals?
Also known as salts, electrolyte minerals include chloride, potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium. These minerals are essential for fundtions like muscle contraction, body fluid balamce, movement of substances into and out of cells, temperature regulation and sweating, acid levels and the functioning of kidneys and nerves.

How are electrolytes lost and in what volume?
Electrolytes are lost in sweat, in urine and manure. Urine production, the amount of water in manure and the ability to sweat is dependent on adequate levels of electrolytes and fluid in the body. In hot humid conditions sweat and electrolyte loss can be as much as 12.5 litres/125 grams per hour.

At one extreme, a deficiency of electrolytes can cause tying up, a thickening of the blood, a decrease in urine production, impaction colic and reduced sweating. Overheating steals blood from muscles, diverting it to the skin and respiratory system to enable cooling.

Overheating also causes 'blowing' after work and can lead to sweat gland exhaustion - horses so affected are also described as 'puffers', 'non sweaters', 'dry coated' or as suffering anhydrosis.

All of these conditions can also be in a mild (sub clinical) form and can affect performance, without affecting overall health.

(NB - Export only, not in NZ or Aust)