Offer Horses Electrolytes in the Winter: The Whys and Hows

When we think of reaching for electrolytes, most of us are dealing with a sweaty horse on a sunny, humid day. What about that same horse on a frigid, crisp day that has worked equally hard?

“No matter what the actual ambient temperature is, a horse will begin to sweat as soon as its core temperature rises. This elevation in core temperature depends on how hard the horse is working,” explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research.

In the summer, when horses traditionally have short, tight coats, it is easy to gauge how much a horse is sweating and what its electrolytes needs may be. In the winter, the heavier coats of unclipped horses may make it look like a horse is sweating more than it actually is, yet it will take longer to dry.

Sweating, an essential mechanism of thermoregulation, results in electrolyte losses. Replacing those electrolytes will help horses recover quickly following physical exertion.

“Determining how much of an electrolyte product to offer in the winter can be challenging because sweat loss is tricky to assess. Overestimating how much your horse actually sweats in the cold is not a problem, though, because the body will rid itself of excess electrolytes as long as the horse has enough water to drink. This is another reason why it is important that horses have access to fresh water to drink as they choose,” Crandell advised.

Kentucky Equine Research has formulated several electrolyte supplements, including a slow-release products to replace key electrolytes—sodium, chloride, potassium, and magnesium—in a controlled manner that the horse’s body retains and uses over a longer period of time. “We also offer products as pastes for rapid electrolyte replacement,” said Crandell.