NEW ITEMSDO YOU NEED TO FEED ELECTROLYTES?
With the summer competition season almost upon us, we are often asked if horses and ponies always need electrolytes, and if so, which ones
Electrolytes are the vital salts lost from the body, in particular through sweat during hard work and in warm weather, but also daily through urine & faeces, daily losses can often be replaced through the diet, however, as workload increases, electrolyte losses increase, and the diet may no longer provide all the supplementary electrolytes required by the horse. The diet you feed your horse will impact on his electrolyte levels, if you are uncertain, call us at the office or speak to your local Equiform contact. Electrolytes are required to maintain the correct balance of fluids within the body’s cells, they are required for correct muscle function, and deficiency can have a negative impact on performance and recovery. Research has found that feeding electrolytes before work may allow the horse to hold a temporary reserve of both electrolytes and water in the large intestine, the benefit of this electrolyte reserve is promoted by the presence of fermentable material in the hindgut, (forage based material) allowing the continued absorption of the reserves. By releasing nutrients during work, the tissues depleted of sodium, chloride and water may be revived.
Equiform Nutrition has recognised that horses and ponies in work may have differing requirements for electrolytes, and as work load differs, so does the electrolyte requirement.
For horses & ponies in light to medium work Equiform recommends: Xtrolyte Powder – designed so that it can be mixed in the feed of dissolved in water. Xtrolyte powder meets the demand for electrolyte losses occurring after low – medium intensity exercise, so is ideal for horses during fitness and early training.
For horses & ponies in medium to hard work, Equiform recommends: Xtrolyte Blue – formulated to meet the needs of horses fed a compound feed diet, and is ideally suited to horses in hard work, and has been designed so that it can be fed with any of Equiform’s Excel Discipline products. Xtrolyte Blue can be mixed in the feed daily.
For horses & ponies in medium to hard work, at risk of muscle related problems or fed a diet of straights, Equiform recommends: Xtrolyte Red – formulated for horses fed on a diet based on straights and has been designed so that it can be fed with any of Equiform’s Excel Discipline products. Xtrolyte Red contains higher levels of Zinc, Copper, Vitamin E and Selenium than Xtrolyte Blue to help counteract dietary imbalances that occur when feeding straight cereals.
For horses in very hard work, with severe muscle related problems or competing in hot & humid countries, Equiform recommends: Xtrolyte Pro – a comprehensive powdered electrolyte designed specifically for horses working at maximal levels in hot and humid environments. The formulation contains the key electrolytes normally lost in sweat, included at levels to help maintain the vital fluid balance within the body.
Daily use of one these products may speed the return to peak condition after work. By ensuring the horse receives sufficient levels of electrolytes after exertion, the loss of essential salts can be avoided, allowing the horse to perform at its peak without distress or loss of performance. By choosing one of the above products, the exercising horse will receive sufficient electrolytes to maintain performance and recovery.
Also available from Equiform is Xtrolyte revive, a concentrate electrolyte syringe fortified with vitamin B12. It is of particular benefit during and after long transportation and before and after strenuous work. The use of Revive may help reduce recovery time after a period of exertion and heavy sweating, and therefore lead to a faster return to optimum fitness. Revive is suitable for use along side daily administration of any of the ‘Xtrolyte’ range of electrolytes.
Excel Travelwell paste is a new and unique product, specially formulated to support competition horses throughout the season. During a busy competition season, a busy horse can travel hundreds of miles in a horsebox. While everything is done to ensure the horse is secure and comfortable, the physical demands of each journey can add up and may have a negative impact on performance. Excel Travelwell paste has been formulated to include electrolytes, with each tube containing a balance of salts similar to that lost in 1 litre of sweat. Nucleotides, Yeast & MOS have also been included for their positive impact on the horse, along with Vitamin B12, to support metabolism.
