Just like human athletes, horses push their limits during training and competitions, facing similar physiological challenges. While a balanced diet and exercise are key to health and performance, electrolytes often get overlooked.
Horses, like humans, lose electrolytes through intense exercise. That's why replenishing these vital minerals is a must to prevent dehydration, muscle cramps, and performance setbacks! Keep your horse at their peak by ensuring proper hydration and electrolyte balance, and watch them thrive with optimal health, unwavering stamina, and unmatched endurance on the track.
Let’s explore five key reasons why electrolyte intake is necessary for optimal health and performance:
When you sweat, you lose water and vital electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium, which help regulate fluid balance within the body. Proper hydration maintains blood volume, preventing dehydration, and supporting cardiovascular function. By replenishing electrolytes, you’ll enhance hydration levels and sustain peak performance during workouts, races or competitions.
Muscle contraction is a fundamental process during any physical activity. Electrolytes, particularly calcium, sodium, and potassium, assist in facilitating this function. Calcium is essential for muscle contraction and relaxation, while sodium and potassium help regulate the electrical impulses that control muscle contractions. Optimised muscle function reduces the risk of cramping, and improves overall performance.
Electrolytes are involved in energy production at a cellular level. For instance, magnesium plays a crucial role in ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production, the primary energy source for muscle contractions. Maintaining optimal electrolyte levels enhances energy production, delays fatigue, and sustains endurance.
The nervous system is responsible for coordinating movements and transmitting signals between the brain and muscles. Electrolytes - especially sodium, potassium, and calcium - ensure optimal nerve function, enhanced reaction time, and support for coordination and balance, all of which are crucial for athletic performance.
Intense exercise can lead to muscle damage and inflammation, resulting in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Electrolytes, particularly potassium and magnesium, play a crucial role in the recovery process. Potassium aids in muscle repair and rebuilding, while magnesium helps reduce inflammation and muscle soreness.
Proper electrolyte supplementation and hydration strategies,alongside proper nutrition and training, should be implemented to support your horse’s health, performance, and recovery.
The EquaCare Custom Mix Vitamin, Mineral and Electrolyte Formula is a supplement for horses to maintain overall health, performance and recovery. Scientifically formulated, it includes a complete blend of all the essential ingredients a horse in heavy work needs on a daily basis, but in a concentrated formula, so feeding less achieves the same results.
The Formula maintains optimal electrolyte balance in horses that sweat during exercise and also helps to support and improve recovery after strenuous exercise. The concentrated formulation cuts out filler, and at a dose rate of 30-60g per day, offers affordable prices to support hard working horses and support your bottom line.
Every horse is unique, and we suggest consulting with a veterinarian who can provide tailored advice and guidance.
The EquaCare Custom Mix Vitamin, Mineral and Electrolyte Formula is available in 16 kg drums, SHOP HERE.
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