Simplyboost ELECTROLYTE

FAQS

When do horses need extra electrolytes?

Whenever a horse works hard, summer or winter.

Electrolyte use in the days before a competition will stimulate water intake such that the horse enters the competition fully hydrated. (long term mega-dosing is wasteful as any excesses cannot be stored)

Before during or after travelling: offering water or an isotonic solution every couple of hours on long journeys should help avoid unnecessary fluid* and/or electrolyte deficits before the competition has begun.

Before and during moderate to intense work: Research has shown that correct administration of good quality electrolytes can increase the time it take for a horse to fatigue by nearly 23%. (On the day of competition or exercise bout, the final offer of electrolytes should be made together with water, at least 4 hours before exercise.)

Horses on low or restricted forage diets (i.e. less than 30% of total diet as forage) will receive a diet inherently low in electrolytes.. Equally a new forage source could be markedly different to the previous source, and cause problems.

For more information follow this link to our article about why horses need electrolytes.

How do I feed Simplyboost Electrolyte?

Simplyboost is added to hard feed and the daily dose (50ml Horses/25ml ponies) can be given in just one feed or split across two. We do not recommend adding to a water bucket as not all of the water will necessarily be drunk. It is not designed to be squirted directly into the Horse’s mouth.

Why use Simplyboost Electrolyte?

It has a natural mint flavour to make it more palatable for your horse, its liquid form allows it to be easily dispensed and administered.

Can my horse have too much electrolytes?

No your horse will filter the unused minerals and excrete them, so don’t worry if you accidentally use too much Simplyboost Electrolyte.

Can I feed my horse Electrolytes if they have Gastric Ulcers

Salt, electrolytes and gastric ulcers

The use of electrolytes in relation to gastric ulcers has been mooted since a study in endurance horses showed those receiving a concentrated electrolyte paste once per hour for eight hours showed higher rate of gastric lesions than those receiving a placebo.  Extreme use such as this is not routinely recommended.  

It is necessary to replenish lost salt and electrolytes after sweating, because sweat contains both water and electrolytes; sweating cools the horse by the process of the evaporation of water from the skin, but in losing water the horse also loses electrolytes, which must then be replenished through the diet.

SimplyBoost Electrolyte is not a concentrated paste – it is presented in a dilute liquid format, providing both water and electrolytes to replenish those lost in sweat. One 50 ml serving provides 4g of sodium, 2 g of potassium and 9g of chloride  – an ideal top up after the horse has sweated.

Ensuring a sound base of forage in the diet is essential – forages themselves are a source of electrolytes, and they also create a reservoir of water bound with the fibre in the hindgut that acts as a fluid reservoir when sweating.

Supplementary electrolyte requirements are highly individual, dependent on the duration and intensity of the workload, the core ration as well as the environmental conditions.