J.D. Pagan, B.M. Waldridge, C. Whitehouse, L. Dalglish, S. Fuchs, M. Goff, Furosemide reduces the energetic cost of exercise in Thoroughbreds independent of its effect on EIPH. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. Volume 33, Issue 5, Pages 328–329. (Proceedings of the 2013 Equine Science Society Symposium.) Six fit Thoroughbred geldings (age 6.8 ± 1.2 y, […]

Pagan, J., Waldridge, B., Whitehouse, C., Fuchs, S. and Goff, M. (2014), Furosemide Administration Affects Mineral Excretion in Exercised Thoroughbreds. Equine Veterinary Journal, 46:4. (International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology 2014) Furosemide is widely administered to Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses to reduce the incidence and severity of EIPH. The magnitude and duration of mineral loss […]

Technical Bulletin, March 2015 Besides affecting EIPH, does furosemide administration have other effects? Kentucky Equine Research (KER) has conducted multiple studies to help answer the following questions: • How does furosemide affect body weight and performance? • What are the effects of different furosemide doses? • How does furosemide affect water intake? • How long […]

Commercial electrolyte products often contain dextrose, which is purported to improve electrolyte uptake in horses. Studies conducted at Kentucky Equine Research suggest that adding dextrose or starch to electrolyte mixes does not increase rate of absorption or retention of electrolytes, Dextrose may still have some value in improving the palatability of electrolyte mixes, but the […]

To compare effects of oral supplementation with an experimental potassium-free sodium-abundant electrolyte mixture (EM-K) with that of oral supplementation with commercial potassium-rich mixtures (EM+K) on acid-base status and plasma ion concentrations in horses during an 80-km endurance ride.

Water and electrolyte supplementation is crucial for the prevention of dehydration and associated complications during endurance races.

The nature of vitamins is as varied as any group of nutrients. In general, vitamins are organic compounds required in minute amounts that cannot be produced in adequate quantities in the body and must be obtained from food or the environment.

Minerals required in minute amounts by horses are specified as microminerals. These nutrients play an important role in a wide range of biochemical systems which affect virtually every metabolic function in the horse. With the exception of selenium, little attention has been given to microminerals in horse nutrition until shortly before the publication of the current NRC Nutrient Requirements of Horses in 1989.

Little is known about voluntary salt intake in horses. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to
measure the voluntary intake of loose versus block salt over time and evaluate how salt intake affects water consumption.

Mineral requirements for horses are usually calculated using information about
the horse’s body weight, age, weight gain, physiological status (pregnancy, lactation,
etc.) and level of activity.This paper will review some of the most important factors affecting the
digestibility of minerals in horses and will use data from a series of digestion trials
conducted by Kentucky Equine Research to illustrate how relevant nutrient interactions
are in typical horse rations.