The majority of us would associate Horse Electrolytes to be a summer only supplement for horses and ponies but though February we won’t see soaring temperatures causing ourselves and our equine partners sweating due to sunshine - unless you are devoted to your equine’s clipping schedule - there is often a time period where our horse’s coat is growing back that we see significant sweating. Scientific Nutritional Products takes a look at the importance of Electrolytes for Horses in wintertime in our latest blog.
Winter - the season for short days, mud and woolly winter coats. Though we try and keep our horse’s freshly clipped all season the dark evenings can sometimes mean their fluffy coats grow back and stay back for a week or so at a time several times during the colder months
When our horses exercise, heat is produced by the horse’s muscles and then carried to the surface of the skin by the bloodstream. If the surrounding air is cooler than the horse as the horse moves through the air, some heat will be lost by the process of convection. if it is a breezy day this will help our horse stay cool during exercise and cool down post exercise. However if it is damp and rainy, as UK winter weather often is, this will prove more difficult, as it will for evaporation to occur.
In addition cooling the horse quickly to reduce further sweat loss after exercise becomes more complicated in wintertime. In the summer when our horse’s overheat it is simple, we take the hose or buckets and drench the largest muscle groups but if we took that method in the wintertime we make cause our horses to suffer a chill.
When your horse is sweaty after exercise in winter towel them off and then apply a moisture wicking rug. Once they have has sufficiently cooled down, provide hay as the process of digesting high fibre feed will help keep them warm from the inside out as they are drying off.
If your horse has lost significant sweat during exercise - whatever the time of year - it is essential to replenish both their fluid loss and their loss of Electrolytes.
Equine sweat is what is known as isotonic. This means that the sweat contains salts, known as minerals, including sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and chloride. Losses of these minerals can cause our horse's to suffer from tiredness, muscle stiffness, dehydration and in severe cases colic. When exercising intensely a horse can lose up to 15 litres of sweat per day so it is clear to see with such considerable losses it is vital to replenish our equines depleted stores of both water and lost body salts!
Providing a Horse Electrolyte supplement in the diet after travelling, competing or a strenuous training session can help equine naturally recover post exercise by correcting the balance of electrolytes and water within the body. Supplying Electrolytes alongside ample fresh water to accompany the supplement allows equines to refuel their bodies giving horses and ponies the extra boost they need by ensuring the necessary nutrients are available.
Scientific Nutritional Product's Horse Electrolyte Supplement (https://www.horsesupplementsdirect.co.uk/products/horse-electrolytes) helps give your horse the correct balance of horse electrolytes and water within the body needed to optimise natural recovery. To find out more click the link or check out more of our informative and educational blogs by visiting our website www.horsesupplementsdirect.co.uk
