Electrolytes for horses advices? Start with a quality feed program and add a natural horse mineral supplement like Redmond Daily Red. Fortified Mineral Formula. Includes a boosted horse minerals package—including zinc, manganese, copper, iodine, selenium, and cobalt—to enhance antioxidant function, improve immunity, digestion, energy, muscle, tissues, and joints. (See our fortified mineral analysis here.) Vitamins for Vitality. Added vitamins A, D and E support vision, reproduction, strong bones and joints, healthy nerve and muscle function, and a robust immune system. Excellent Hydration Aid. Contains essential electrolytes for horses that trigger thirst and encourage drinking. Mined in America: 100% of our mineral salt is mined in central Utah from an ancient Jurassic Era sea deposit.
What are Equine Electrolytes? According to this article in Scientific American, electrolytes are chemicals that, when dissolved in water, produce ions with an electrical charge. “These ions have either a positive or negative electrical charge, which is why we refer to these compounds as electro-lytes. In the world of nutrition, we use the word “electrolyte” more specifically to refer to minerals dissolved in the body’s fluids, creating electrically charged ions.” Discover extra information at https://blog.redmondequine.com/4-horse-care-myths-that-may-be-endangering-your-horses-health.
Speaking of staying warm, it’s vital to warm up your horse slowly in cold temperatures. Like us, a horse’s muscles, bones, and joints become stiff in cold weather and grow more flexible with gradual activity. So walk your horse a minimum of ten minutes before moving her into a trot, and consider using a half sheet or exercise sheet during warm-up. Your horse will also thank you for warming her bit before fitting it in her mouth. A cold bit is a quick way to start your ride off on the wrong foot. Which leads us to hoof safety.
Redmond Rock and Himalayan rock are both solid, unrefined sea salt rocks. Both are mined deep in the earth and contain electrolytes and a plethora of beneficial trace minerals for horses. Both are natural horse salt licks and better options than a manmade pressed block. So is Redmond Rock salt a better choice than a Himalayan rock? Yes, we think so! Here’s why: 100% of Redmond sea salt rock is mined from our Jurassic Period mineral deposit in Central Utah and packaged right here in the USA. Redmond Rock contains around 93% salt and 7% natural mineral content compared to 3% mineral content of most Pakistani-mined Himalayan rock.
Bring “home water.” If you can, bring two five-gallon containers of water from home. This helps your horse transition gradually to “away water” and lessens the likelihood she’ll be put off by unfamiliar smells or tastes. Add moisture to feed. Consider soaking your horse’s hay to aid in hydration, and offer a wet bran mash or beet pulp once or twice a day. Peak your horse’s interest. Toss a few apple pieces or carrots into your horse’s water bucket to tempt her nose into the bucket to take a sip. Stress. The rigors of hauling, leaving paddock pals, dealing with a disrupted schedule, and a new environment can all create anxiety that affects a horse’s desire to drink. Discover more details on dehydration in horses.