Electrolytes for Horses
Summer is right around the corner, which means more summer fun with horse shows and rodeos. While most athletes and exhibitors are accustomed to long drives and climate changes, your equine partner probably takes the ride a little harder than you do.
At BioZyme® Inc., we put our focus on care that comes full circle for all animals every day. Regardless of the types of animals our customers are feeding and raising, we want every animal to have the best care possible. This includes a mama cow raising a newborn calf, an elderly dog that has been man’s best friend for more than a decade or a world-champion roping horse.
That’s why our team at Vitalize®, a line of supplements for horses and dogs with proven solutions to keep your animal healthy and performing, created this blog. We want you to know the best way to care for your equine partners while hauling them, including giving them electrolytes for horses. There are other solutions to care for your horses while hauling them and ways to prevent heat stress in horses.
Hydration is Vital
Hydration is paramount for horses as it directly impacts their health, performance and overall well-being. Horses are highly susceptible to dehydration due to their large size, high metabolic rates and tendency to sweat profusely during physical activity. Adequate hydration is essential for maintaining proper bodily functions such as digestion, temperature regulation and nutrient absorption.
Inadequate water intake can lead to serious health issues such as colic, kidney problems and heat stress in horses. Proper hydration also plays a crucial role in preventing muscle fatigue and cramping, which can affect performance and increase the risk of injury during exercise.
Moreover, dehydration can negatively impact a horse’s mental state, leading to irritability, lethargy and decreased cognitive function. Ensuring access to clean, fresh water at all times is vital, especially in hot weather or during strenuous activities.
How To Keep Your Horse Hydrated
Keeping your horse hydrated while traveling is essential to prevent dehydration and maintain your horse’s health and well-being. Here are 10 suggestions to help encourage your horse to drink while traveling to your summer events.
Provide Access to Fresh Water
Offer your horse access to clean, fresh water at regular intervals during travel stops. Carry ample water supplies and portable water containers or buckets to ensure that your horse has access to water whenever needed. Be sure that your horse has buckets it is familiar drinking from and an ample water supply, unless you know you are stopping at a place with a working hydrate.
Familiarize Your Horse with Water
Encourage your horse to drink by offering water from familiar sources or containers that they are accustomed to drinking from. Some horses may be reluctant to drink from unfamiliar water sources, so using recognizable buckets can help stimulate drinking behavior.
Offer Electrolytes for Horses
Consider adding electrolyte supplements to your horse’s water or feed before and during travel to replenish electrolyte levels lost through sweating and exertion. Electrolytes for horses can help stimulate thirst and encourage your horse to drink more water since they are basically a combination of salt and sugars.
If you are looking for a way to give your horse more than just an electrolyte, consider giving it Vitalize® Blazin.
Vitalize Blazin
Vitalize Blazin is a liquid product for horses designed to support normal recovery from heat stress and exertion. It contains AO-Biotics® Amaferm®, a prebiotic research-proven to enhance digestibility. Blazin’ promotes cellular hydration and water retention and contains antioxidants to reduce damaging free radicals caused by exertion and heat.
“Vitalize Blazin’ works differently than other products on the market. While it does help replenish some of what is lost and maintain cellular hydration, it also supports blood flow to the skin, which helps to dissipate body heat. Additionally, we know that elevated temperatures and exertion often result in damaging free radicals and fatigue, so the formula contains antioxidants to help combat those effects,” said Lynsey Whitacre, Ph.D., BioZyme’s Director of Smarketing and Product Development.
Provide Wet Feeds or Hay
Offer wet feeds or hay soaked in water to increase your horse’s water intake and provide additional hydration during travel. Wet feeds can be more palatable and appealing to horses, making them more likely to consume water along with their feed.
Monitor Temperature & Humidity
Be mindful of environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, as these can affect your horse’s hydration needs. Offer water more frequently during hot weather or when traveling in high temperatures to prevent dehydration. If possible, try to travel early in the morning and later in the evening; however, we understand this might not always be possible with performance and competition schedules.
Limit Stress & Anxiety
Minimize stress and anxiety during travel by ensuring that your horse is comfortable and relaxed. Provide ample ventilation, stable footing, and a comfortable environment inside the trailer to help reduce stress and encourage drinking.
Take Regular Stops & Breaks
Schedule regular stops and breaks during long-distance travel to allow your horse to rest, stretch its legs and have access to water. Aim for stops every few hours to offer water and assess your horse’s hydration status. Be sure to stop at least every three hours when traveling during the hottest part of the day to offer water.
Monitor Hydration Status
Monitor your horse’s hydration status during travel by observing their behavior, urine output and overall well-being. Signs of dehydration may include reduced urination, dry mucous membranes, sunken eyes, lethargy and decreased skin elasticity. It is just as important to monitor their hydration status during travel breaks as it is to ensure they get a drink of fresh, cool water.
Encourage Drinking
Encourage your horse to drink by offering water frequently and using familiar cues or commands associated with drinking. Some horses may respond to verbal encouragement or cues to drink, while others may need additional encouragement such as wetting their lips or offering water from a hose.
Adding Vitalize Blazin to your water at home, especially during the heat, and then adding it to their water while trailering is another way to encourage horses to drink. They will be used to the flavor, and the Blazin will mask any chlorine or any other unfamiliar flavor in the water you give them
Seek Veterinary Assistance as Needed
If your horse shows signs of dehydration or reluctance to drink despite your efforts, seek veterinary assistance promptly. A veterinarian can assess your horse’s hydration status, provide supportive care and recommend appropriate interventions to address dehydration and promote hydration.
By following these strategies, you can help keep your horse hydrated and healthy during travel, ensuring a safe and comfortable journey for your equine companion.
When To Give Electrolytes for Horses
Electrolytes are essential for maintaining hydration, electrolyte balance, and overall health in horses, especially during periods of increased sweating, physical exertion, or hot weather. The best time to use electrolytes for horses depends on various factors, including the horse’s activity level, environmental conditions and individual hydration needs.
Remember, we already mentioned that Vitalize Blazin’ is more than just an electrolyte. It is the summer solution you’ve been looking for!
When To Feed Blazin
Here are a few more reasons besides hauling or traveling that you might consider feeding Blazin’ to your horses.
During Exercise or Training
Electrolytes should be given to horses before, during, and after intense exercise, training sessions, or competitions, especially if the activity lasts longer than one hour or involves significant sweating. Electrolytes help replace minerals lost through sweating and support hydration and muscle function during exertion.
In Hot Weather
Electrolytes for horses exposed to hot and humid weather conditions can be exceptionally beneficial. That’s because increased sweating can lead to electrolyte imbalances and dehydration. Supplementing electrolytes during periods of hot weather can help replenish electrolyte levels and maintain hydration.
After Heavy Sweating
Following periods of heavy sweating, such as after exercise, competition or hot weather exposure, horses should receive electrolytes to replenish lost minerals and promote recovery. Offer electrolytes in water or feed immediately after sweating to support rapid rehydration and electrolyte replacement.
During Endurance Rides or Competitions
Horses participating in endurance rides, long-distance competitions or events with high levels of physical activity may require electrolyte supplementation throughout the event to maintain electrolyte balance and prevent dehydration.
Follow recommended electrolyte dosing guidelines based on the duration and intensity of the activity.
In Cases of Salt Deficiency
Horses deficient in sodium chloride (salt) may benefit from electrolyte supplementation to meet their salt requirements and support electrolyte balance. Salt blocks or loose salt should be available free choice to horses at all times, and electrolyte supplements can be used to complement salt intake as needed.
It’s essential to use electrolytes for horses (or any product) as directed by the manufacturer’s label recommendations to avoid over-supplementation. Excessive electrolyte intake can lead to imbalances and health issues. Consult with a veterinarian or equine nutritionist to develop an electrolyte supplementation plan tailored to your horse’s individual needs and circumstances.
How Vitalize Blazin’ Helps…
Read what our customers have to say about Vitalize Blazin:
Eventers
“I have a horse that is 8 years old that sweated fine when we were up north, but the last three summers down in Florida when the heat index reached between 105 to 112 degrees, he quit sweating. When I was sent the Vitalize® Blazin’ in May, I tried it on him right away. He started back to sweating right away and hasn’t missed a beat. It has been a life changer! He’s so much happier. He’s a somewhat finicky eater, but I give it to him twice a day and he likes it!” – Hillary Irwin, Jumper
Jumpers
“I’ve seen really good results with Vitalize® Blazin’. My jumping horse is a big, lazy horse and just everything about him is slow. I’ve tried so many energy products just to give him a little more oomph, and some things will work a little bit, some things don’t work at all. But Blazin’ has worked really well on him. He responds super well to it, and I’ve actually used it in all different types of weather. In the hot weather, it gives him some extra energy and helps him recover so much faster after rounds and between the first round and the jump-off. I feel like I have been able to jump him in bigger classes because of it. It’s helped him reach his potential better because he has enough energy to get around the big jumps with increased stamina.” – Darby Pease, Professional Rider
Barrel Racers
“I bought Vitalize® Blazin’ for our barrel horses that we are currently hauling and run on Lasix, just to help combat the heat. We had a mare stop sweating a week ago, she has been getting it daily since then and today we have full sweat. I am so thankful we have this in the barn!! I am truly impressed with how it worked for her. We were really happy with the results we were getting on our performance horses, but that is truly a great selling point for me, I will keep them on it for sure now.” – Melanie Lipp, Barrel Racer
Get Your Vitalize Now
More than just electrolytes for horses, Vitalize Blazin’ is available in two convenient sizes: a 32- and 64-ounce bottle with easy-to-use pumps. Use as needed during elevated temperature or exertion and administer 2 to 4 pumps (30 – 60 mL) per day, depending on the intensity of heat and exercise.
We recommend splitting the dose between morning and evening feedings. The best results will be obtained after at least three consecutive days of use, and depending on environmental conditions, the product can be used as long as needed.
You can purchase Blazin’ from BioZyme online or through one of our select online retailers. Get your Vitalize Blazin’ and other Vitalize products from your local BioZyme dealer, or wherever Vitalize products are sold.
Do you want to learn more about Blazin’ or other Vitalize products for horse gut and joint health? Read more of our educational blogs or visit our website.
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