25/05/2026
👌 Feel free to pop us a message to order any of the Premier Performance products they really are amazing 👌
*** ELECTROLYTES ***
With temperatures hitting the 20s already in the U.K., it’s time to start supplementing electrolytes for working horses. Here are some electrolyte facts and reminders.
1. Electrolytes help to maintain the correct balance of fluid in the body, and are essential for muscle contraction, nerve function and digestion, amongst others.
2. Electrolytes are not just essential in boiling 30 degree temperatures.
3. If working moderately hard in warm weather, a horse will lose 15-20g of sodium (5l of sweat).
4. It is not possible to maintain a correct electrolyte balance by simply loading your horse with electrolytes the night before a show or event. A sudden loading of electrolytes is also likely to cause hind gut disturbances; not what you want the night before an event.
5. Offering your horse a salt lick also doesn’t guarantee they will be ingesting the required amount of salt for both hydration and function.
6. Sodium drives the thirst so when horses drink water, they actually decrease that desire to drink. Sodium isn’t being replenished by the water alone.
7. Grass and hay are low in sodium - another reason that all horses need to be on a daily balancer or vitamin/mineral supplement, regardless of their weight, and especially if in ridden work.
8. Electrolyte deficiencies can take weeks, or sometimes months, to correct.
9. A small deficit in electrolyte levels will result in subtle signs of dehydration, such as a slight loss of performance.
10. There are many commercial electrolyte supplements on the market; aim to choose one with less than 5% sugar, and a high level of Sodium.
11. My horses are fussy drinkers, so I only ever add electrolytes to their feed, so as not to ever discourage them from drinking.
12. Commercial mashes, or sugar beet water, are good ways of getting water into fussy drinkers.
These are the two electrolyte supplements I use; the Electrolyte Plus has been a big hit with my horses as it’s spearmint flavoured, so doesn’t taste of salt. The mash is perfect before and after an event, and for very fussy horses, I use simple sugar beet water. If you’re buying anything from Premier Performance then don’t forget my 25% discount code - PPVET25!
Feel free to share the post, but not to copy my words as your own.
