Wellington, Fla. - April 21, 2017 - Long distance travel is often a necessary part of many competition horse's lives. Horses shipping long distances are subject to higher levels of transport stress which creates a number of potential health and performanc
e risks. Travel causes stress because it requires that the horse make extreme adjustments in its behavior and management of its physiologic systems in order to cope with the environment. There are three forms of stressors associated with transport. Physical stressors (such as loading and unloading, vibration, head posture and lack of movement), psychological stressors (such as separation from the regular herd, confinement and exposure to
strange environments) and environmental stressors that in
clude changes in temperature and humidity, dust, ventilation and even changes in light levels.
ElectroBalance is a unique electrolyte that provides levels of sodium, chloride and potassium at levels to restore sweat losses in a base of bentonite clay. Bentonite clay may help support healthy gastrointestinal tissue by acting to buffer stomach acid and coat the stomach lining. This makes it an ideal choice for horses that display gastric sensitivity when consuming electrolytes and for those horses at risk of gastric ulceration when stressed.
Researchers at the University of California at Davis conducted work looking at the impact of 24 hours of long-distance travel on horses that were experienced travelers. They monitored the horses both during transit and in the recovery period 24 hours after travel. They found that the horses lost an average of six percent of body weight and hematocrit and total protein (used as indicators of dehydration) increased during travel.
Weight loss was thought to be due to sweat loss as well as decreased gut fill and the blood work confirmed that the level of dehydration increased with time traveled. Most horses regained 50 percent of the weight lost within 24 hours of arrival at their destination.
Other studies have shown that horses can lose significant amounts of fluid and electrolytes due to sweating during transport possibly as much as that lost completing the traditional
endurance day of a three day event (roads and tracks, steeplechase and cross country) during a 10-hour journey.
Giving excessive levels of electrolytes during transport may be detrimental. A better approach to insuring horses stay hydrated is to provide adequate electrolytes in the days running up to travel and to insure horses are drinking properly before departure. Then on arrival administration of electrolytes can continue. It is also important to make sure that the electrolyte you choose provides large enough amounts of sodium, chloride and potassium per serving to have an impact on electrolyte status.
"Electrobalance has really helped to keep my horses from dehydrating while traveling, competing and during big weather changes," said bronze medal winner, Allison Brock of the 2016 Olympic Dressage Team USA. "It's palatability makes it an especially easy choice to feed."
Using ElectroBalance before shipping helps insure adequate sodium intakes prior to travel which can help encourage thirst. Enviro Equine client Chad Summers, a racehorse trainer, uses ElectroBalance as part of his program. Summers recently took the international racing community by storm when his horse 'Mind Your Biscuits' won the 2017 Dubai Golden Shaheen $2 million (G1) race against a strong line of international competitors. Summers relied on ElectroBalance to make sure that Biscuits stayed in top form during the long trip to Dubai, where the Gold Shaheen was held as part of the 2017 Dubai World Cup and believes that it helped the horse stay in top form during a difficult travel schedule from Florida to Dubai.
"Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly" 
Rabii Benadada
