If you're active in equestrian sports, you've probably heard of the term 'electrolytes'. While sweating, your horse loses important salts and minerals, or electrolytes, which are essential for its fluid balance. It is therefore important to replenish these in a timely manner to prevent discomfort. An electrolyte deficiency can lead to:
- A dull coat
- Fatigue
- Tense muscles
- Reduced willingness to work
- Dehydration, potentially leading to serious kidney problems
- Loss of performance
In this blog, you'll discover why an electrolyte supplement can be beneficial for your horse's health and how to ensure proper recovery after exercise!
What are electrolytes for horses?
Electrolytes are substances that dissolve in body fluids, forming electrically charged ions. A common example is table salt (NaCl), which splits into sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) ions in water.
Electrolytes are crucial for your horse's health. They regulate fluid balance, energy metabolism, pH balance, muscle contractions, and nerve signal transmission. Since your horse's body cannot produce electrolytes itself, they must be supplemented through food and drinking water.
The most important electrolytes for horses are chloride (Cl-), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+). Each has its own function within the body:
| Electrolyte | Function |
| Sodium | Helps regulate fluid balance in the body, blood pressure, and the proper functioning of muscle and nerve cells. |
| Potassium | Essential for the contraction of muscle fibers and for proper nerve impulse conduction. |
| Chloride | Together with sodium and potassium, ensures the fluid balance in the body. |
| Calcium | Helps build strong bones. |
| Magnesium | Involved in the formation of bones and teeth and the transmission of nerve impulses. It also ensures normal muscle function. |
How can I supplement electrolytes?
Global Medics Electrolytes are specially formulated to help horses maintain optimal hydration and support their overall health and well-being. Our new formulas and volume options make it easy to add the supplements to water or feed, ensuring your horse gets the essential nutrients to stay healthy and fit.
Our Electrolytes formula guarantees sufficient essential electrolytes, even during intense exercise.
Available products:
- Electrolytes powder
- Electrolytes liquid
When is it advisable to supplement electrolytes?
During hot days or after strenuous efforts, it is recommended to administer extra electrolytes to your horse, as high temperatures cause your horse to sweat more and thus lose large amounts of minerals and salts.
The table below shows how much sweat and salt horses lose on average depending on the sweat score:
| Sweat score | Characteristics | Average sweat loss | Salt loss per day |
| 1 | Under the saddle it is partially damp and sticky. The neck and flanks are slightly darker than usual. | 1 to 4 litres | 2 to 7 teaspoons |
| 2 | Under the saddle and on the neck it is wet. There is some foam here and there where the reins touch the neck and along the saddle. | 4 to 7 litres | 7 to 12 teaspoons |
| 3 | Under the bridle, the neck and flanks are visibly wet with some foam spots here and there. | 7 to 9 litres | 12 to 16 teaspoons |
| 4 | Neck and flanks are completely wet. There is white foam between the hind legs. | 9 to 12 litres | 16 to 21 teaspoons |
| 5 | Same as sweat score 4, but sweat is also dripping above the eyes and abdomen. | 12 to 18 litres | 21 to 32 teaspoons |
Tip: Do you want to quickly know if your horse has a fluid or electrolyte deficiency? Pinch a skin fold on the neck between your thumb and forefinger and release. If the fold doesn't disappear immediately, the water and electrolyte balance is likely disturbed.
What else can I do in hot weather?
Besides supplementing electrolytes, you can take the following measures during high temperatures to make your horse more comfortable:
- Ensure plenty of fresh drinking water. A horse normally drinks up to 30 litres of water, but this can increase to 60 litres in hot weather.
- Avoid training during the hottest hours of the day. Give your horse a rest day if it's too hot.
- Provide cooling, for example by hosing your horse down with cool water or using a cooling blanket.
- Use sunscreen on horses with light skin around the nose to prevent sunburn.
- Monitor the quality of pasture grass. In heat, the nutritional value of grass can decrease, recognizable by a yellowish color and dryness. In that case, supplement with roughage.
Where can I find more information?
Are you unsure if your horse needs electrolytes? Or do you still have questions after reading this blog? Feel free to contact us. Our Global Medics team is always ready to advise you.
