Dietary Salt, Electrolytes, and Water in Horses
  by Robert N. Oglesby DVM

Folks often become confused over the difference between salts, minerals, and electrolytes. In the most general sense, salts and minerals are very similar and represent a combination of a metal and non-metal atoms to form a solid. Electrolytes are the dissolved form of salts and minerals. From a nutritional standpoint there is quite a difference between salts and minerals. We pull out sodium chloride and potassium chloride from the other minerals and label them "salts". These three elements, sodium, potassium, and chloride once dissolved and absorbed from the gut are the main electrolytes, with help from calcium ions, that support the blood and responsible for important cellular functions and characteristics. Despite the critical importance of these electrolytes there is no reservoir for these electrolytes in the body.

It is impossible to talk about health and electrolyte status without discussing water or more accurately hydration. Our bodies function only because they are a vessel that contains significant amounts of water. The water is needed to dissolve and transport chemicals. Needed chemicals including energy containing molecules and oxygen are transported to the cells and toxic waste is carried away from the cells. Without adequate amounts or water and proper levels and balance of electrolytes this rapidly breaks down. During times of rest, water and electrolyte is finely balanced primarily by adjusting intake (ingestion), absorption from the bowel, and excretion in the urine. Usually horses that are not working or under any heat stress can get an adequate amount of these salts from the forage in their diet without supplementation. But the balance between intake and loss is close particularly with respect to sodium and chloride which is one reason we provide supplemental salt to the horse.

Prolonged exercise and/or hot weather puts extra demands on this system. In an effort to keep cool, the horse can sweat profusely, losing large amounts of both water and electrolytes. This during a time when the animal is not able to ingest more water and electrolytes and the body requires more of what the water and electrolytes do to keep things functioning. Lose too much water and electrolytes and the animal becomes dehydrated and may have trouble properly perfusing the tissues with oxygen rich blood. But often other complications can occur before this happens if any of the electrolytes become too concentrated, deficient, or unbalanced.

This article deals with salts and electrolytes in the horse's diet with an emphasis on maintaining hydration and electrolyte balance in a horse during maximal prolonged exertion, like endurance riding or long trail rides during hot, humid conditions.

Related Articles:

• Minerals in the Horses Diet
• First Aid for Overheating and Exhaustion
• Summertime Care

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