[wyldterv]

We're having a bit of what is for US, fairly cold weather this week... Highs only in mid 30-s but with a wind chill factor bringing it down to the mid 20's and lows in the high teens'-mid 20's... I know not that cold compared to many parts of the country but cold for OUR part of the country

I keep plenty of fresh water available, de-iced at all times for ALL the animals, because not only is it cold, but there is very little humidity and I dont' want anyone dehydrating. I was reading an interesting article from a few years back issue of Equus about adding electrolytes during excessive cold and heat spells and am curious if anyone has done/does do this?

I do make sure to keep Poncho and Lexi's water from being too cold, so that they'll want to drink it.. Heated water buckets and warm water brought out of the house to put in the large trough and they seem to be drinking enough water so it's probably not a necessity, but I'm just curious now after reading through the article.

[::Miss Kitty::]

It might be a good idea for the "just in case" My gelding has a tendincy to get colicky in that kind of weather, so I give him electrolytes in his feed. Warm water also helps a lot so your horses should be ok!

[CanadianWrangler]

I am sure the article may have been referring to dehydration caused to to lack of open water in winter months, which causes horses to resort to licking ice, and/or snow. Being forced to licking ice/snow does greatly reduce a horses water intake.

If they have plenty of access to open water then dehydration is not a concern, and electrolytes then unnecessary. Electrolytes are generally necessary in instances of perspiration as the salts are lost transpiring salts through the horses skin (much like our own).

Do they have access to a salt block/lick?

Sounds like an interesting article.

[wyldterv]

Originally Posted by CanadianWrangler

I am sure the article may have been referring to dehydration caused to to lack of open water in winter months, which causes horses to resort to licking ice, and/or snow. Being forced to licking ice/snow does greatly reduce a horses water intake.

If they have plenty of access to open water then dehydration is not a concern, and electrolytes then unnecessary.

Sounds like an interesting article.

It was in interesting article and I've read similar articles in some of my dog publications as well... I really SUSPECT they mean VERY extreme cold Below 10F etc and like you pointed out, NOT having enough access to open water. But also pointed out was the fact that many horses don't like to drink super cold water and so they don't tend to drink ENOUGH of the available open water if they feel it's too cold, so the electroyletes can help increase their urge to consume more available water and replace the ones lost from the body keeping itself warm enough.

Poncho and Lexi are able to get out of the wind if they so desire and locked in the barn at night so with all the hay/grazing they want so I doubt they're working too hard to stay warm but you know us 'protective mums' LOLOL. We start reading things and start to go hmmmmmm... hehehehe

[CanadianWrangler]

Well the main factor that horses reduce water intake (as stated) is it being cold. To consume more cold water, with electrolytes in it or not, would be detrimental as the water will lower thier body temperature.
Almost a 'catch 22' situation.

[MissBandit]

You want to encourage water consumption during cold snaps, deffinitely. As for this:

Originally Posted by CanadianWrangler

.. To consume more cold water, with electrolytes in it or not, would be detrimental as the water will lower thier body temperature.
Almost a 'catch 22' situation.

That is actually not correct. Ingesting cold water will infact cause the horse's body temperature to rise.

[CanadianWrangler]

Yes MB the horses body temp will rise, but to do so takes more energy. And the immediate effect of the water is a drop in body temperature.

Many horses will actually shiver after drinking water to create that rise in body temperature. This shivering burns alot of extra calories the horse needs.

The reason the body temp. rises is to warm up the ingested water. As the water warms the horses body temperature gets to a more stable level.

[wyldterv]

Originally Posted by MissBandit

You want to encourage water consumption during cold snaps, deffinitely.... Ingesting cold water will infact cause the horse's body temperature to rise.

Yes they say if you're getting hypothermic to drink lukewarm NOT hot drinks... Cold drinks to WARM your body up and HOT drinks to COOL your body down, which just seems strange but it what we discussed in a Wilderness survival course, so makes sense it would be the same for all mamals.

I'm not worried about my horses being warm enough, both have more then adequate winter coats and solid shelter to get out of the wind/weather and if it got REALLY cold and either seemed to shiver, have a hard time staying warm, etc, I have winter blankets available for Lexi and would go buy one for Poncho (but with 3 inches of Mustang coat that would most likely just make him Sweat! ).

I was mainly just curious if other people had read about using electrolytes during severly cold weather and /or did supplement them at such times

[CJ]

I use electrolytes in the winter to keep the buckets from freezing so hard so fast. Been doing it for years. I had the chance to ask my mentor if she knew of anybody else who did that, and she said No, (but she's in So.TN) I also asked if there was any reason she could think of Not to do it, and she said No. I hate beating icy buckets as much as the next guy, but electrolytes make it more of a fair fight, lol.

[wyldterv]

Originally Posted by CJ

I use electrolytes in the winter to keep the buckets from freezing so hard so fast. Been doing it for years. I had the chance to ask my mentor if she knew of anybody else who did that, and she said No, (but she's in So.TN) I also asked if there was any reason she could think of Not to do it, and she said No. I hate beating icy buckets as much as the next guy, but electrolytes make it more of a fair fight, lol.

SO they help keep the water from freezing up????? That right there is a good reason to use them then, LOLOL... I assume that things will still freeze, but takes longer? or makes the ice 'softer'?