Electrolytes and minerals: what do you give to your horse and when? The advice and information platform for all horse and dog enthusiasts.

The five most important minerals that horses need are:

Sodium
Chloride
Potassium
Magnesium
Calcium

In addition, there are a number of so-called 'trace elements', which horses need only in very small quantities. All these minerals are important for regulating fluid balance, muscle function, nervous system, and energy provision. Therefore, it is essential that a horse receives sufficient minerals in its diet every day. Preferably through a mineral pellet, without grains.

What is the difference between electrolytes and minerals?

Electrolytes are minerals that, when dissolved in a fluid such as blood, can conduct electric charge. Electrolytes help the horse's body regulate nerve and muscle function, as well as acid-base and fluid balance.

We use the term 'electrolytes' when the minerals are dissolved, for example, in your horse's bloodstream or in a liquid supplement. The individual ions of, for example, magnesium or sodium that float around in the fluid are then called electrolytes. The difference between minerals and electrolytes is therefore only their form.

Why do horses need minerals?

Horses (and people) need electrolytes to function well in their nervous system, to recover after exertion, and for muscle flexibility. Calcium is needed for muscle contraction, ensuring that muscle fibers slide against and over each other as the muscle shortens and contracts. Magnesium is needed to separate the muscle fibers back apart and ensure that the muscles can relax. Magnesium is also important for energy metabolism and signal transmission in the nervous system. Potassium regulates water uptake of organs, bones, and muscles. Sodium ensures good nerve and muscle impulses. Chloride is important for good digestion. In addition, especially sodium and chloride are also important for fluid balance.

Mineral loss in horses

Horses lose some of these important minerals daily due to sweating and through manure and urine. Much of it is replenished from their diet, but often not all. What is important to know is that much Dutch hay is low in minerals. It is a good idea to give a mineral supplement or balancer to fill these deficiencies, even if your horse receives concentrated feed.

Training and warm weather lead to extra mineral loss

Under normal training conditions, horses can lose up to 10 liters of sweat in two hours, for example during a moderately intense outdoor ride. With that sweat, many minerals are also released, which you can see, for example, as white residue on your saddlecloth. In hot temperatures, horses can lose a lot of fluids and electrolytes, not only during exercise. Sport horses usually have a higher mineral requirement due to their greater power output and muscle mass.

Does my horse have a mineral deficiency?

But how can you tell if your horse is structurally deficient in minerals? For many horses, it does not go that far, but if there is a prolonged electrolyte deficiency, the following symptoms may occur:

Dull coat
Sunken eyes
Dull, listless, or even depressed behavior
Poor performance
Dark urine

What should I give to supplement minerals?

When supplementing minerals (and electrolytes), absorbability is important. The minerals must be fed to horses in a form that is readily available and quickly absorbable. Liquid is more absorbable than powder or pellets. If you prefer to give a powder, make sure you give them in organic form (oxide, sulfate, or chelate). However, it is often better to give the minerals in liquid form. A ready-to-use liquid electrolyte supplement, or a powder that you mix with water, can quickly replenish the mineral balance. This ensures that your horse experiences less muscle soreness and doesn't get overtired on hot days or after a strenuous workout.

Sports drink for your horse

The best way for absorption is to provide an isotonic solution. 'Isotonic' means that the number of dissolved particles per liter is the same as that of your horse's blood. This makes the transfer of minerals easier. An electrolyte supplement is nothing more than a kind of 'sports drink' for your horse. An additional consideration is vitamin B2, which ensures that electrolytes are better absorbed by the body. So choose a supplement that contains B2.

When should I give minerals or electrolytes?

It is wise to give your horse well-absorbable minerals daily. You can choose a liquid supplement to sprinkle over their food, or in a separate bucket of water, where the horse can choose how much it needs. A balancer pellet is always advisable. When it gets very hot, or when your horse has to make a significant effort, you can temporarily supplement this with liquid electrolytes or minerals.

Horses do not store minerals, so make sure there are no deficiencies before the warm period or heavy performance arrives. Also, due to optimal fluid balance being essential for high performance, it's a good idea to have the minerals completely in order. Minerals are essential for fluid balance! Therefore, replenish fluids and electrolytes from two days up to a maximum of four hours in advance. For example, start the supplement one or two days in advance and give it immediately after exertion. This ensures the smallest possible dip for your horse.

Conclusion: replenish electrolytes on time with a well-absorbable supplement

Minerals and electrolytes are both minerals, but they have different forms. With electrolytes, the minerals are already dissolved so that they can be absorbed directly into the body. The basis for all horses is to feed them well-absorbable minerals daily through a grain-free balancer. This is part of the basic diet for all horses, whether recreational, breeding mares, or sport horses.

With a lot of sweating, high temperatures, or intensive training, add electrolytes because minerals are not stored in the horse's body. You can provide this from two days in advance to shortly after the strenuous activity. Choose electrolytes with vitamin B2 for better and faster absorption. Or you can choose to offer a separate water trough with liquid minerals. You will see that the horses drink more of this on warmer days or after a lot of exertion.

Electrolytes and minerals: what do you give to your horse and when?

You often hear that your horse needs to get enough minerals in its diet. Also, electrolytes are a good idea during strenuous exercise or high temperatures. But what is the difference? Is there an overlap between these two things? And when do you actually give what?