The horse’s sweat is made up of electrolytes. This is largely chloride, sodium, potassium and calcium. When horses sweat in response to an increase in body temperature, they release these electrolytes. Why is this such a big deal? Electrolytes assist in:
- Transmitting nerve impulses – calcium is especially important for this
- Maintaining body fluid balance
- The healthy function of muscles and the circulatory system
Horses can sweat up to 15 litres per hour if there is the need for it. In fact, 85% of their means to cool down is carried out via sweating after high intensity exercise. The other 15% is via respiratory loss or the act of panting. Consequently, other than the loss of electrolytes, the horse will lose a lot of fluid or water from its system.
Rehydrating the Horse
The act of tending to a dehydrated horse needs to consider supplying both fluids and electrolytes back into the system. Many of the electrolytes found in sweat are provided to the horse in its diet. It is therefore possible to have the horse receive the necessary electrolytes and fluid intake just by feeding and watering the horse as normal.
However, this will take a reasonable length of time to have the horse take in that which was lost over a quite short period of time. Consider a horse that has lost 10kg in body weight due to exercising at a reasonably intense level for an hour. 1 kilogram of water is equivalent to 1 litre of water. So in one hour, the horse has lost 10 litres of body fluid.
When looking at encouraging the horse to drink to increase its fluid levels, it is possible to provide around 0.9 grams of electrolytes per one litre of water and have the horse consume this. The result of this is that to replace what was lost in one hour of exercise, the affected horse would need to consume 10 litres of water. Getting a horse to drink this much in a short sitting is difficult and perhaps not beneficial. It would be possible instead to place the electrolytes in a feed and provide the horse with water ad lib.
Replacing Versus Hydration
The act of replacing stores that were lost in a short time frame after an event can be particularly difficult. In fact, even if electrolytes were provided in feeds that were given to the horse, the amount that was fed may not meet the amount that was lost.
It is perhaps better to consider making sure that the horse is fully hydrated and has had sufficient levels of electrolytes provided to it prior to competing. In this regard, an event isn’t started with electrolyte stores already lacking in the equine body.
When looking to compete with a horse, it should be noted that electrolytes are particularly important for normal body function. Providing a horse with sufficient electrolyte levels in its diet as well as looking to replace fluids that have been lost are the best way to ensure that the body is functioning as well as it can after a draining event.
Sources
- "Electrolyte Supplements for Horses 101," Drs Foster and Smith, accessed September 2011.
- Equine Exercise Physiology, Marlin, D., and Nankervis, K. Blackwell Publishing 2002. ISBN 0 632 05552 9.
Chris Thomas - C. Thomas has studied and worked with horses since 2001. She teaches horse studies part time and is undertaking an Equine Science ...
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