15 electrolytes on the market – and why they are vital for healthy horses

Are you confused about the best electrolytes for horses, why they are important and how to ensure your horse has the right levels? Or are you looking for the best electrolyte product for your horse? Then we are here to help.

Electrolytes are commonly fed to horses, particularly in the summer months, but in order to get the best out of them, choose the right one and know how to feed them, it’s important to understand how they work.

Electrolytes for horses: what are your options?

Here is a selection of the best electrolytes for horses on the market…

NB: Cost per day has been calculated using the maintenance measure for a 500kg horse in light work (where there was variation) and the RRP of the smallest available tub. Some products require you to feed more with a higher workload, which will increase the cost per daily measure, while buying a larger tub will likely decrease it – these costs per day are a guide only.

Electro Salts is a concentrated combination of the essential plasma salts combined with dextrose to aid efficient absorption. It should be fed following exertion, after heavy sweating or during periods of very hot weather, and can be given in the feed or dissolved in water.

This is rapidly absorbed to replace vital salts required for recovery and maintaining stamina. The peppermint-flavoured powder can be added to water or feed after sweating, during hot weather, exercise or in times of stress. Also available in powder form.

This balanced blend of the essential electrolytes will help keep competition horses performing at their best by maintaining correct muscle and nerve function for optimum health.

What are electrolytes?

Electrolytes are minerals dissolved in the blood and tissues of the body, which carry a positive or negative charge and can bind with another ion to make a “salt”. They help to preserve the correct balance of fluids in the body’s cells and are involved in muscle function and the processing of wastes. Deficiencies cause dehydration, impaired performance and may exacerbate clinical problems such as azoturia.

The main electrolytes are:

• Sodium (Na+)
• Chloride (Cl−)
• Potassium (K+)
• Magnesium (Mg2+)
• Calcium (Ca2+)

Horses lose electrolytes daily through sweating, in urine and faeces. These losses can normally be replaced in the diet. Horses rely on sweating to control body temperature during exercise and it is generally accepted that 90% of a horse’s weight loss after exercise is due to sweating. It is important that this weight loss is monitored and the fluid and electrolyte losses replaced, otherwise poor performance will result.

During periods of exertion such as competition and training, electrolyte losses can be considerable, particularly during hot weather. Even under normal exercise conditions, a 500kg horse could lose 10 litres of sweat during two hours of exercise.

Signs of electrolyte deficiency in horses include:

• Dull coat
• Sunken eyes
• Depression
• Listlessness
• Poor performance
• Dark urine

How to provide electrolytes to horses

The horse’s body cannot retain water without the presence of electrolytes, so simply offering water after exercise, while important, will not fully rehydrate your horse. Electrolytes should be added to either the water or the feed.

Adding electrolytes to water to form an isotonic solution (a solution that contains the same electrolyte concentrations as that of the body fluids) will ensure that both fluid and electrolyte losses are replenished and the horse becomes quickly rehydrated. However, after prolonged sweating it will take several days of electrolyte supplementation to completely replenish losses.

Alternatively, if your horse is a poor drinker or there is no opportunity to replace fluid losses during the competition, electrolytes may be fed alongside a small amount of concentrate feed. Electrolyte pastes are also available. However, a large single dose can cause the horse to absorb water from the blood vessels surrounding the gut and actually worsen the effects of dehydration in the short term.

Sodium chloride (table salt) can be made available for the horse ad lib in the form of a salt lick, but intake should be monitored, particularly in hot weather, as evidence has shown horses do not naturally self regulate their intake. Alternatively feeding a tablespoon of table salt daily will ensure your horse receives sufficient sodium chloride.

Giving electrolytes to competition horses

The electrolytes most commonly used in supplements – sodium chloride, calcium carbonate and potassium chloride – are not included in the FEI Clean Sport prohibited substances list. Neither are other common ingredients, such as sodium bicarbonate or glucose.

Simple electrolyte supplements should, therefore, be safe for use in competition horses. However, it is advisable to check the label of any supplement or ask the manufacturer. For the full list of banned substances visit feicleansport.org

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