Common Questions

 

I have been told to avoid electrolyte mixes with sugar.  Is this problem with Perform ‘N Win?

                It is true that supplements containing large amounts of sugar should be avoided when using that supplement before, during or after exercise to replace sweat losses.  This kind of supplement may cause sugar highs and lows.  However, a supplement without any glucose (a simple sugar) will not be absorbed efficiently.  There are transporters in the small intestine that carry sodium, potassium and water, with glucose across the intestinal wall into the bloodstream.  The amount of carbohydrates in PNW (approximately 3%) is balanced to ensure rapid absorption of sodium, potassium, and water (for comparison, Gatorade has 6% carbohydrates to promote electrolyte transport in humans).  The rapid absorption of the PNW supplement has been confirmed by research at the Equine Research Centre, by using tracers to follow the absorption of sodium and potassium.  The ingestion of up to 3 ounces of PNW in ¾ gallon of water will not cause sufficiently large increases in plasma glucose to get a sugar high.  It is recommended that during exercise, not more than 2 ounces in ½ gallon water be administered at once.

 

Why can’t you make it into a paste?

                Some supplements are sold as a salt paste.  This highly concentrated material in the stomach will empty much more slowly than water.  It may take twice as long to be emptied into the intestine an the recovery process is delayed considerably.  Also some pastes are manufactured in a corn syrup (high sugar) base and as mentioned above, high sugar intake is not recommended for the horse during exercise.  These pastes also cause dehydration of body fluids unless given with adequate amounts of water.

                We do not recommend using salt pastes during exercise as they disturb the fluid balance of the horse.  This has been confirmed by a team in Sweden (Nyman et al.) doing research on endurance horses during competition.  They recommend against using salt pastes before and during exercise.

 

Can I make my own recipe at home for less money?

                Yes, you can.  However, the ration of salts, the form of salts and the proportions of salts vs. Carbohydrates is important for designing a supplement that will work  optimally during exercise.  The PNW resulted in increased time-to-fatigue (23% longer exercise duration at a constant speed) when used on horses under controlled treadmill conditions.  The study also showed rapid uptake and distribution into the blood and of K⁺ into the blood cells and skeletal muscle.  Controlled tests have found this supplement to be effective at quickly restoring water and salt losses in exercising horses.

                Powders in general, and PNW in particular, ounce for ounce are about 10% of the cost of most commercially available pastes when administered for a given ride distance.

 

What type of horse is this supplement suited for?

                All horses undergoing prolonged (2 hour or more) exercise, including training and long walks in warm weather sufficient to cause sweating.  PNW is designed to be fed on a per hour of exercise basis.  This makes it ideally suited to the performance horse.  No guessing is needed about your horse’s weight where the dose of the supplement is based on body weight.

 

How is weight loss related to performance decrements?

                The amount of weight lost during exercise is predominantly due to sweat losses.  If a 450 kg (1000 lb.) horse loses 14 kg (30 lbs), this means that about 14 L of sweat has been lost or a 3% body mass loss has occurred.   Recent research show that even a 3% body mass loss can have a negative effect on performance in horses.  A 3% decrease in body mass is equal to about a 5% decrease in body water ( 5% dehydration).  At the Race of Champions, horses that lost more fluids (body mass) in the early part of the ride finished at slower speeds than the horses that maintained their body mass.  In other words, a high sweat loss that is not replaced early in the ride results in a slower ride speed (poorer performance).  It is important to keep water and electrolytes going into the horse, even during the early part of the endurance ride if a strong finish is desired.

 

Isn’t water sufficient?  Why do I have to add electrolytes?

                Intake of water alone will actually dilute the remaining fluids in the horse, decreasing the concentrations of sodium, potassium and chloride in the blood.  This dilution can be a serious health concern because it leads to an imbalance of electrolytes and increases the time it takes for full rehydration and electrolyte replacement.  It may also reduce the thirst response, which is affected by the sodium concentration in the blood.  The composition of PNW with electrolytes and carbohydrates ensure that rehydration occurs rapidly, and the bloodstream is quickly absorbing the water and electrolytes it needs to recovery.  The Na is retained in the bloodstream and the rest of the extracellular fluid where it retains water.  The K⁺ helps retain water in the muscle and the rest of the intracellular fluids.  Testing has even confirmed that the K⁺  tracer is given with water.  The maintenance and restoration of K⁺  and water into the muscle is critical for optimal and continued performance.

 

Do I need to give electrolyte supplements during the week when training?

                If your work-outs cause sweating that last for more than one hour each day, then using PNW in the water after your work-outs will aid in faster recovery.  PNW is not designed as a daily all-purpose electrolyte supplement, but many like to use it during the week as well as during competitions and training to maintain consistency.

 

Can I give PNW in any other manner?

                Yes, as long as you know the hydration status of your horse.  If you prefer to administer the PNW as a slurry or paste by syringe directly into the mouth, only do so after the horse has had a good drink.  PNW can be given in the feed in the morning for pre-loading.  We know of one endurance rider that makes PNW  “cookie” to give his horse during the endurance competitions.  As such, they can be useful rewards for the horse AFTER the horse has had a drink of water.  They could also be used at home to train the horse to drink.

 

Do I need to give my horse electrolytes on  short rides (< 30 miles ) ?

                The answer to this question depends on the conditions.   If it is hot and humid, then giving your horse PNW will help the horse during exercise and to help enhance recovery.  Even though the distance may seen short, if the speed is higher, or it is hot and humid, the horse can still lose more than 20 L (5 gallons) of water.

 

Will horses get enough salt from a salt block to replace the sweat losses?

                If your horse is sweating more than 2 hours a day, then it is unlikely to get enough salt in a short period of time.  Salt blocks are made for cattle.  The horse may not be able to lick enough salt to replace the losses.  This is frequently why you see horses chewing or scraping their teeth on the salt block to get more.  Providing free choice loose salt can help avoid this problem.  Also, some of the blocks contain other minerals and substances.  If the horse licks or chews the block enough to satisfy the sodium requirements, it may be getting too much of the other minerals that are not lost in sweat.

 

Isn’t it bad to give the horse electrolytes during the week?  Don’t we make the horse lazy in saving electrolytes?

                Electrolytes cannot be “saved” or “stored” for long periods.  The only way we know of  to “store” electrolytes is to put them into the g.i. tract, with water, before exercise.  There is no evidence to show that giving a horse electrolytes during the week makes him “lazy” during the endurance ride.  In fact, the opposite may occur.  If the horse is lacking in electrolytes from the hours of training, it may be in a fluid and electrolyte deficit before the ride even starts.  The loss of water and electrolytes is an obligatory result of heat dissipation.  These losses, if not replaced, can negatively impact on the performance and health of the animal.