Sweat is essential to horses for the cooling process. Without sweat, horses will overheat and can develop heatstroke, just like people can. The difference is people sweat out mostly water, but horses sweat water and electrolytes.
If electrolytes are not replaced, it can lead to severe health issues, even death. Read on to learn more about electrolytes for horses and the best electrolyte supplements available.
What are electrolytes for horses?
Electrolytes are a combination of common minerals. Taking us back to biology class, some of these minerals have positive ions, and others have negative ions. These ions provide the electricity needed for most of the activities that support life. They send signals that control everything from muscle contractions to digestion. In addition, electrolytes assist in overall fluid balance and nutrient absorption.
In their solid form, they bond with sodium chloride (table salt). When these trace minerals are broken down in water, they become ions. We know them by the names of calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, chloride, bicarbonate, and phosphate.
When your horse needs electrolytes:
Is your horse a top performance horse in a rigorous training program? Perhaps you and your friends like to take the horses out for weekend trail rides. Or maybe you live in a hot and humid climate where your horse sweats while standing under a shade tree in the pasture. Or worse of all, your equine partner has a disease that affects how much he sweats.
All of these situations have one thing in common, sweat and the loss of electrolytes. Quality forage and most commercial feeds are high in electrolytes and are enough to keep the average horse healthy. However, horses that sweat for prolonged periods need our help to replace the necessary electrolytes. This is where an electrolyte supplement comes in handy.
How to administer electrolytes to your horse.
There are several options for administering electrolytes. When you use them will depend on what activity your horse is involved in. Remember, electrolytes are needed for horses that sweat for prolonged periods.
1. Granulated electrolytes are fed mixed with grain. If you have a big event planned during hot weather, it would be good to start the supplement a few days in advance. Feeding electrolytes ahead of time has two purposes: it enables your horse to get used to the taste. Also, it makes sure your horse has the full amount of electrolytes it needs.
Feeding ahead of time is often called “preloading” electrolytes. But in reality, horses do not store them from one day to the next day. Any extra electrolytes that the body does not need will be safely passed out of the body through the urine. Again, feeding ahead of time makes sure they are currently carrying a full load of electrolytes.
How much electrolyte supplement depends on the brand, size of the horse, and workout expectation. Be sure to read the label.
2. Gels and paste are delivered similar to paste wormer. The paste tube is small and convenient for travel. They are an excellent choice if your horse requires quick relief, for example, after a long haul in a trailer in high temps and humidity. More than one tube can be administered in a day, but they can cause stomach problems if overused. If you feel you need to use more than one or two a day, it would be good to consult your veterinarian.
3. Dissolvable products added to a horse’s drinking water will take getting used to by some horses. Once they get used to it, these products are an excellent way to ensure your horse has consistent access to extra electrolytes.
The best electrolyte supplements for horses
1) Farnam Apple Elite Electrolyte Paste
Our top choice is Farnam, which sells its Apple Elite in paste form. Unfortunately, the company has currently discontinued its granular form, although some sellers still have it available on Amazon. Farnam has a reputation for providing top equine supplements. The Apple Elite Electrolyte Supplement lives up to this reputation.
Pros:
- Good value for the price
- Horses seem to like the apple taste making it easier to administer
- Works as expected to bring electrolytes back to normal
- Servings easy to adjust according to exercise and sweat levels
- With paste, you know how much your horse is taking in
Cons:
- Currently only available in paste form with the exceptions of a few Amazon sellers.
2) Kentucky Performance Products Summer Games Electrolyte Horse Supplement
Summer Games Electrolyte was developed for horses competing in the 1996 Olympics. This supplement is our second choice for the best electrolyte supplements for horses. This is low sugar, granular form electrolyte supplement to be fed with grain. The low sugar is suitable for horses with Cushing’s.
Pros:
- Low in sugar
- Granular form makes it easy to feed
- Contains critical electrolytes, and trace minerals, not fillers
- Formulated using extensive research on the composition of equine sweat
Cons:
- Some horses have a hard time getting used to the taste
3) REDMOND Equine, Rein Water, Natural Hydrating Electrolyte Mineral Mix for Horses
Redmon Rein water is an all-natural powder that is dissolved into water. It encourages horses to drink while supplying the necessary electrolytes. Extracted from an ancient sea bed in Central Utah, horses seem to like the natural taste.
Pros:
- All-natural supply of essential minerals
- Dissolves in water and encourages drinking
- Horses seem to love the taste (one user reported his horses consistently chose the Rein water over freshwater)
Cons:
- Picky horses may take some time before they will drink it.
4) Oralx Electro-Plex Electrolyte Paste
Electro-Plex is specially formulated to replenish electrolytes quickly. It also encourages drinking. The high-quality ingredients are formulated to stay fresh over a long shelf-life without needing to be refrigerated, making this a handy electrolyte supplement to keep in the barn or on the go.
Pros:
- Formulated to stay fresh over time.
- Manufactured in the USA
- Contains high-quality ingredients with a guaranteed analysis
Cons:
- Can be pricey
Regardless of which type of electrolyte supplement you use, paste, granular, or dissolvable, it is vital to remember electrolytes are needed for a large number of bodily functions in our equine partners. If your horse sweats for a prolonged period, he is not only facing heatstroke but also an imbalance of electrolytes. As responsible horse owners, it is up to us to replace those electrolytes with a supplement.
Article written by: Wendy Sumner