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[MSAR] ELECTROLYTES both horse and human....For public safety? HUH?
- From: Karen Nesbitt <spanishequines@yahoo.com>
- To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org
- Subject: [MSAR] ELECTROLYTES both horse and human....For public safety? HUH?
- Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:20:23 -0700 (PDT)
RESPONDING TO:
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Date: Sat, 17 Apr 2010 08:29:14 -0400 From: "T'mi Finkle" <tfinkle@erols.com> Subject: [MSAR] Water and Electrolyte Balance for a MSAR Equine While on Task To: "'Mounted search and rescue'" <msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org> Message-ID: <8n990j$pg02jd@smtp01.lnh.mail.rcn.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Now that summer and warmer more humid weather is approaching most regions of North America, I am wondering what other MSAR teams have in there standards that address or reference electrolytes or flavored water for their public safety mounts? The topic of electrolytes has been discussed before and there has been mixed of feelings on the issue.? While I agree the knowledge and use of electrolytes is essential for an endurance equine or sports horse; I am not sure if the same can be said about the routine use of electrolytes with public safety equines. We must also keep in mind that during days with extreme heat and humidly an operational period will likely be reduced to 4 to 6 hours, or in some cases not deployed at all (the safety of rider and horse always come first). With about 95 percent of MSAR task being conducted at a walk, short distances or some just standing during passive searching assignments, are giving electrolytes always necessary? Heat build up from extensive muscle movement is not the same for the MSAR as it is for endurance and sport horses; the rate of water and electrolyte between riding disciplines greatly varies.? Most of us know that the use of electrolytes is commonly given in endurance horses race/sport horses in training. However, it seems that many police mounted units and many MSAR teams mostly rely on water intake (alone) as the means to keep a public safety equine hydrated. T?mi www.trotsar.org ???? ----------------->>>>>>>>>>> Im cringing because of what you said above here T'mi - and I qoute:
"The topic of electrolytes has been discussed before and there has been mixed
of feelings on the issue.? While I agree the knowledge and use of electrolytes is essential for an endurance equine or sports horse; I am not sure if the same can be said about the routine use of electrolytes with public safety equines." EEKS!
I think you need to educate yourself more on the proper use of electrolytes for both your horse and for yourself as a rider.
For horses - Electrolytes are lost when a horse sweats. The need for an electrolyte supplement increases when at work, or when stress and heat are added to your horse’s daily routine. The more your horse sweats, the more your horse needs proper minerals.
It does not matter if your horse is an endurance mount or a public safety horse, all horses can be subject to electrolyte loss at some point in their life. The problem is more so CAN YOU RECOGNIZE IT?
Dehydrated horses have a reduced thirst response. They typically will not drink water containing electrolytes. You can restore the thirst response and encourage water intake by using an electrolyte supplement but horses dont always drink electrolyte tainted water.
Better still use a paste. The paste is better and easier to administer. Putting electrolytes into a water take does not guarantee a horses intake. You have to watch the animal if you do to make sure it drinks. So if you walk away, what is the point, you will not know if your horse drank or spilled it.
Some people will administer Gatorade to their mounts. For some it works. For some the granular in water works, for some the paste. You need to use what works best by your mount and you need to know the signs.
Horses that are fed balanced diets and are not under work stress conditions generally do not require electrolyte supplementation. They meet their needs naturally. Sodium is the exception and all horses, regardless of working conditions, should be fed free-choice salt. Key issue though is BALANCED DIETS.
Most horsemen do not know how or do they get their hay analyzed so therefore they do know the TDN and therefore have no clue as to how to supplement properly. At best they are second guessing the total nutritional value and playing mad scientist when it comes to supplementing. For that matter they do not even know what TDN stands for.
Feeding electrolyte by supplements can be tricky as with any vitamin or mineral supplement and since most people do not know how, or why or where to get a hay analysis the majority of horsemen rarely know how to feed a fully balanced diet to all their horses especially if they have more than one animal and are factory feeding.
Horses that are oversupplemented or undersupplemented are in danger of problems that can include founder, dehydration, h a i r loss, itch, the runs, compaction, loss of pigment to name a few.
Personally I cringe when I see all the supplements on the shelves at feed and tack stores that folks buy and try not knowing how or why.
Mineral imbalances can cause a horse to be a cribbers, they may eat dirt or eat their own manure, eat trees, wood.. . All of which can cause other health and behaivior related issues.
It is very possible to mess up the electrolyte balance in any animal or a human for that matter.
::::::
Here are a couple PEOPLE RELATED WEBSITES:
DO check them out.
Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/fluidandelectrolytebalance.html
Syncope
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=5612
Things can get pretty complicated when you get down to it and also recognizing symptoms that might be similiar to some other issue.
Syncope for one is often related to fainting, dehydration, but it also can be from blood loss and more.
Shortening the work day due to heat and stress can help, but that does not replace the electrolytes lost if they have been lowered already. You need to address the problem and it is not always just the heat or the length of day. Its DEFICIENCY or the opposite extreme.
Blood pressure is also affected. And more. Ask your vet if you are unsure, otherwise you may end up seeign a vet when you least expect it or need one, like when on a deploy. Ask your doctor what he says about you!
GO HERE: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-pressure/HI00043/rss=1
I am sure there are other websites and those trained in the field of EMS or EMT, RN, or doctors etc are fully aware.
Summer time is the time of year a lot of people seem to do STUPID. Stupid includes not watering horses, not monitoring water intake, not watching for the signs and stupid inlcudes more. Summertime is prime time for kids taking a strayed hike, parents locking pets AND KIDS and elderly staying in cars or trailers and the list goes on. Weekend warrior riders are notorious for gettign into problems with their horses.. hmm , letsee, lets through tying up into that group.
People think a five gallon bucket is adequate to water 4 or 5 horses all day long. You best assess your water and mineral adequacy when you have them at pasture. A full size horse requires 15-20 gallons a water per day all year.
We see horses do stupid all the time and we see their owners do equally stupid as well. Weather seems to make a lot of people who should not own animals get down right lazy when it comes to adequate care. They cant seem to recognize for themselves their own problems or deficiencys for that matter as they lapse themselves into denial or they lack education.
Electrolyes and proper vitamins are not a summertime issue. Its a daily thing all year long. Its something to get hyped about and to get in the know. Karen
--- On Sat, 4/17/10, msar-riders-request@lists.ibiblio.org <msar-riders-request@lists.ibiblio.org> wrote:
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[MSAR] ELECTROLYTES both horse and human....For public safety? HUH?,
Karen Nesbitt, 04/17/2010
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Re: [MSAR] ELECTROLYTES both horse and human....For public safety? HUH?,
T'mi Finkle, 04/17/2010
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Re: [MSAR] ELECTROLYTES both horse and human,
Una Smith, 04/18/2010
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Re: [MSAR] ELECTROLYTES both horse and human,
T'mi Finkle, 04/18/2010
- Re: [MSAR] agree with Una, ALLEN SNYDER, 04/19/2010
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Re: [MSAR] ELECTROLYTES both horse and human,
T'mi Finkle, 04/18/2010
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Re: [MSAR] ELECTROLYTES both horse and human,
Una Smith, 04/18/2010
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Re: [MSAR] ELECTROLYTES both horse and human....For public safety? HUH?,
T'mi Finkle, 04/17/2010
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