Electrolytes are the minerals a horse loses in its sweat after intensive work. Some of the main ways to replenish electrolytes lost are:
- make sure the daily diet is meeting requirements for electrolytes
- provide free access to plain salt (sodium, chloride, NaCl)
- feed plenty of forage (a rich source of potassium and magnesium)
- use a quality electrolyte supplement on days when sweat losses are highest (especially during hot, humid weather)
- if you are adding salt and electrolytes to your horse's feed and he stops eating, it could be because you are exceeding his requirement for these minerals which makes the feed taste horrible. Reduce or remove them for a few days until his appetite returns and then slowly reintroduce them.