This message is from: Robin Churchill <[email protected]>
We usually don't have this problem where I live but I take something we do in very hot weather and also use it when the weather is cold. I know some people are going to laugh and think we are crazy (which is probably not far from the truth) but in my part of Florida, we give our horses Gatorade in the hot weather after work when they have sweated a lot. I add electrolytes to it because the amount of Gatorade we give is not really for electrolyte replacement. After work, we give them an 8 quart bucket with 2 or 3 scoops of the powder. I use the lemon-lime, orange or blue so when they splash it on you, your clothes don't get stained. In the winter, if it gets below 50 at night which is cold for us, they really slow down their drinking so I throw a couple scoops in one of their water buckets at night and the bucket is empty in the morning. This also works if you want them to drink on the trailer or at a show. Any drink powder can be used, in fact, I have used crystal light for my warmblood that has had laminitis in the past. The downside is that some of them like it so much that they become almost crazed when they smell it or think you are making a bucket or giving some to another horse so the rule here is that they don't get it until they are rinsed or sponged and ready to be turned out and they have to stand politely without pawing or being rude in the crossties. Robin in chilly, windy SW Florida where it hasn't gotten out of the mid 60's for the past couple days and it is going to get in 30s tonight. Brrr--I know we're a bunch of wimps. Important FjordHorse List Links: Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw FH_L Shirts: http://tinyurl.com/8yky94l
