EquiGlobal

Interesting and valid information about electrolytes in warm, not even hot weather.

*** ELECTROLYTES ***

With temperatures hitting the 20s already in the U.K., it’s time to start supplementing electrolytes for working horses. Here are some electrolyte facts and reminders.

1. Electrolytes help to maintain the correct balance of fluid in the body, and are essential for muscle contraction, nerve function and digestion, amongst others.

2. Electrolytes are not just essential in boiling 30 degree temperatures.

3. If working moderately hard in warm weather, a horse will lose 15-20g of sodium (5l of sweat).

4. It is not possible to maintain a correct electrolyte balance by simply loading your horse with electrolytes the night before a show or event. A sudden loading of electrolytes is also likely to cause hind gut disturbances; not what you want the night before an event.

5. Offering your horse a salt lick also doesn’t guarantee they will be ingesting the required amount of salt for both hydration and function.

6. Sodium drives the thirst so when horses drink water, they actually decrease that desire to drink. Sodium isn’t being replenished by the water alone.

7. Grass and hay are low in sodium - another reason that all horses need to be on a daily balancer or vitamin/mineral supplement, regardless of their weight, and especially if in ridden work.

8. Electrolyte deficiencies can take weeks, or sometimes months, to correct.

9. A small deficit in electrolyte levels will result in subtle signs of dehydration, such as a slight loss of performance.

10. There are many commercial electrolyte supplements on the market; aim to choose one with less than 5% sugar, and a high level of Sodium.

11. My horses are fussy drinkers, so I only ever add electrolytes to their feed, so as not to ever discourage them from drinking.

12. Commercial mashes, or sugar beet water, are good ways of getting water into fussy drinkers.

These are the two electrolyte supplements I use; the Electrolyte Plus has been a big hit with my horses as it’s spearmint flavoured, so doesn’t taste of salt. The mash is perfect before and after an event, and for very fussy horses, I use simple sugar beet water. If you’re buying anything from Premier Performance then don’t forget my 25% discount code - PPVET25!

Feel free to share the post, but not to copy my words as your own.

Years ago, buckskin was only something you heard on a cowboy film!! Now we have many dilute colours being specifically bred for.
So does everyone have full understanding of the differences between dun and buckskin? Does it matter and why?

What's the difference between 'dun' and 'buckskin,' and why does it matter?

I'm going to answer this in 2 parts.

Part 1 - What is the difference between dun and buckskin?
So, as plainly and simply as possible, buckskin is a bay (black points) that has been diluted by the cream gene. Dun is a coat dilution by the dun gene that adds primitive markings.
Basically buckskin = cream gene, no primitive markings
Dun = dun gene, primitive markings

Part 2 - Why does it matter?
95% of the time it doesn't but there are some very boring people out there whos entire lives and sense of self relies on sitting on the internet waiting for someone to use dun when they mean buckskin so they can go WELL ACTUALLY 🤓 so they can show the whole world they're smarter than you.
Well now you also know the secret so go live your life and be happy.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Gecko the buckskin for illustrative purposes.

We are very excited to share our next chapter with you all!! Lots of work is still being done behind the scenes but keep an eye out 😆 we are still the same team but thanks to all of our clients we are expanding to bigger and better!!

So many people have Irish horses, either pure or part-bred with the wonderful Irish Draught in their breeding.
Wonderful photos shared, a real blast from the past 🥰 ☘️ 🐎

has a story worth telling. A journey that has been challenging but has shown his huge resilience and drive.
Asides from that he is an absolute gentleman, who I helped to source a horse.
Shame on Pakistan for not supporting him better, in fact not at all!! They should really be helping him to put Pakistan on the Eventing map.


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Usman blasts his way into the 2026 Asian Games despite all odds - The Cricket Plus By Alam Zeb Safi LAHORE: In a country where sporting icons are traditionally born on cricket grounds

So do you buy the horse or the X-rays ? No surprise that many horses have anomalies on X-rays; most of us would as well!!

https://www.theequinepracticecompany.com/c6-c7-malformations-in-horses/?fbclid=IwZnRzaAOS5MtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe0OP1-kZQsiDE1_TtuQyD_BnYwRaDTBne0CEGsTOtkDM1R0DpW9eX8R7ao-8_aem_8vzbqVlkwi-rWpJvxC6Zkw #:~:text=For%20years%2C%20veterinarians%20have%20debated,forelimb%20lameness%2C%20or%20neurologic%20deficits

C6-C7 Malformations in Horses: New Research Shows They’re Usually Incidental - The Equine Practice Company A 2024 study by Dr Sue Dyson and colleagues finds no link between C6–C7 variants and neck pain in Warmblood horses. Learn the key findings and what they mean for diagnosis.

Too cute. Have a great weekend everyone 🐴