Science Supplements Complete Electrolytes is a palatable, fully balanced electrolyte that is competition-legal, gentle on the stomach, and replaces electrolytes in proportion to the amounts lost during exercise. Sub-optimal electrolyte intake is a frequent cause of poor performance in competition horses. Palatability problems with ordinary electrolytes can limit feed and supplement intake, cause irritation of the stomach and intestine, and has also been shown to irritate or cause gastric ulceration in horses. Containing the 5 key electrolytes sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and magnesium with Micro Encapsulation Technology means it dissolves in the small intestine where electrolyte uptake is optimal, and is both palatable and gentle on the stomach unlike ordinary electrolytes.
What’s in it?
The five major electrolytes: sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium and magnesium; are key nutrients required for nerve and muscle function, maintenance of normal hydration and normal function of the digestive system, kidneys, lungs and heart. Sub-optimal electrolyte intake can lead to muscle problems and poor performance, therefore horses in work require extra electrolytes to replace those lost in sweat, faeces and urine. The harder the horse works, the hotter the horse gets. The longer a horse works and the warmer the weather, the more sweat and therefore the more electrolytes a horse will lose. One litre of horse sweat contains around 3.5g of sodium, 6g of chloride, 1.2g of potassium and 0.1g of calcium. A horse can easily lose 5 litres of sweat each hour on a normal day at a moderate pace which equates to the loss of around 50g of electrolytes. This amount would not be replaced by the horses' normal daily hay and hard feed alone.
Sodium Chloride - The scientific name for table salt. Salt is the most important electrolyte, but so frequently overlooked. It is the key electrolyte lost in sweat, and essential for the maintenance of good hydration. In many cases electrolyte supplementation with salt alone is sufficient for horses out of work or in low levels of work.
We use encapsulated Sodium Chloride to improve palatability, and prevent irritation of the stomach. The encapsulation agent is a type of oil. This oil is broken down by the natural digestive process in the small intestine, which allows for normal absorption of the electrolytes.
Activity level is the key influence of the sodium requirements of a horse, and to a lesser extent, whether the horse is growing, pregnant or lactating. Activity level has such a big influence because it results in the horse sweating, whereby the horse will lose both sodium and chloride alongside three other electrolytes. The variation in salt requirements range from around 5g daily for a 500kg horse at rest on a hay diet, to upwards of 50g daily for a horse in hard work which sweats regularly. This would be even higher if the horse was working hard in hot or humid conditions.
Potassium Chloride - Potassium and Chloride are essential electrolytes that are lost in sweat. Electrolytes are vital to for the normal function of the body. Electrolyte deficiencies can affect every body system from the digestive tract, to the nerves and the muscles. We use encapsulated Potassium Chloride to improve palatability, and prevent irritation of the stomach. The encapsulation agent is a type of oil. This oil is broken down by the natural digestive process in the small intestine, which allows for normal absorption of the electrolytes.
Mineral Functions:
- Sodium- an essential mineral and electrolyte that regulates fluid balance, supports nerve impulses, and enables muscle contractions. It attracts water to regular blood pressure and hydrate cells, and works with potassium to transport nutrients into cells
- Chloride - an essential electrolyte that regulates fluid balance, maintains blood volume and pressure, and creates the hydrochloric acid necessary to digest food. It also works with other electrolytes like sodium and potassium to conduct electrical impulses needed for proper nerve and muscle function
- Potassium - an essential mineral and electrolyte that every cell on to function. It conducts the tiny electrical charges needed to regulate the heartbeat, transmit nerve signals, relax muscles, and balance fluid levels inside and outside of your cells
- Calcium - not just for strong bones and teeth, calcium regulates blood clotting, muscle contractions - including proper heart function - and helps nerves transmit messages all around the body
- Magnesium - key for regulating nerve signals, stabilises cell membranes, and supports muscle contraction and relaxation. Magnesium is key in supporting steady heart function and supports the metabolism from energy production up.
FAQ’s
- Q: When should I feed electrolytes?
A: The simple answer is to feed every day! It is common for many horses to only be fed supplemental electrolytes immediately before and during competition or when the weather gets hotter. If you feed enough electrolytes during training you will not need to increase the amount in the feed when it comes to a competition. If you don't feed in training and feed only in competition you are asking for trouble. It can take weeks or months, not days, to fully restore the body’s normal electrolyte levels following a month or so of training. - Q: Do I need to give this with feed?
A: You should mix with feed, ideally twice a day, and follow the feeding instructions on the above tab. - Q: Is it safe to give to competition horses?
A: Yes, there are no prohibited substances in this product and all our products are manufactured and tested under our UFAS licence and NOPS scheme.
Feeding Guide:
- Ponies (Approx 250kg) - 1/2 syringe per day
- Horses (Approx 450kg+) - whole syringe per day
Always ensure your horse has free access to fresh, clean water.