Equine mineral products tips? What are Nutrients? Nutrients are compounds essential to life and health. They provide energy, the building blocks for repair and growth, and help regulate chemical processes.2 Horses need six main classes of nutrients: water, fats, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Most vitamins are found in green, leafy forages, while vitamin D is obtained from sunlight. Minerals are found in water, soil, rocks, and plants. They’re necessary to maintain body structure, electrolyte balance, nerve conduction, and muscle contraction in horses.
Sodium, chloride, and potassium are the three most important electrolytes for horses. Salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl), is created when the top two electrolytes are combined. Thus, salt is an electrolyte, and one of the most important for horses. Why Do Horses Need Salt and Other Electrolytes? What roles do salt and electrolytes play in the equine body? Are they needed daily? What functions do they serve? Let’s look at both. Horses don’t always know when they’re thirsty. Salt is necessary to trigger the thirst response that tells horses to drink. Without salt, most horses won’t consume enough water on their own, and risk becoming dehydrated. Water is paramount to health, and salt increases horses’ water consumption. Find additional information on https://blog.redmondequine.com/garlic-for-horses-which-form-is-best.
On the topic of safety, riding with friends is always a smart decision. Group riding is safer and often more fun. Your horse will also appreciate the company of a few extra friends on the trail. And speaking of trails… Keeping to marked, well-used paths is especially important. Avoid riding off-trail in wintertime, in secluded areas, or through heavy snow where hazards like limbs, rocks, or debris may be hidden. And remember, plodding through deep snow is strenuous for your horse. You want to avoid working her too hard or getting her too sweaty before heading back to the barn. Which leads us to cooling down.
Have You Tried Redmond Rock on a Rope? Looking for a versatile and travel-friendly mineral rock for your horse? Try Redmond Rock on a Rope! It provides all the same benefits, equine electrolytes, and 63 trace minerals as original Redmond Rock—but comes on a handy hemp rope. Our smaller-sized salt rock is great for hanging in your horse’s stall, tying to a gate, or traveling in your trailer. How to Use Rock on a Rope (ROR) Tie ROR tight against a post to make it easy for horses to lick. Hang ROR slack in a stall as a healthy alternative to candy balls and boredom busters. Tie ROR to a fence outdoors to keep it out of the dirt and mud. Tie ROR low on a gate so horses can lick and maintain their natural foraging posture.
Temperature: Some like it hot, and some not. Horses like their water tepid–not too hot or cold. This article in The Horse noted research indicates horses prefer lukewarm (68°F) water, especially during cold weather. Acidity. Water acidity affects palatability. According to Kentucky Equine Research, a University of Guelph study found horses are more likely to drink water with a pH of 7.5 (slightly alkaline) than water with acidic levels. Dirty. Unclean or stagnant water can be a floating Petri dish of bacteria and algae. Horses sense when a potential intestinal problem is lurking in murky water and will avoid it. Read even more information at https://redmondequine.com/.