TRMยฎ Nutrition | Equine Health
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๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐? Read our advice bl
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Electrolytes & horse – A necessity not a luxury!
Electrolytes are charged particles, which when dissolved in water or body fluids produce positive (cations) and negative (anions) ions. These ions have a crucial role in maintaining normal health and functioning of the body in a horse.
They ensure smooth working of enzymatic pathways, nervous, cardiac, musculo-skeletal and even digestive system, apart from also helping maintain osmotic pressure and fluid balance. As a result, a balanced homeostasis (bodyโs ability to maintain a stable internal environment) is achieved.
The 5 major ions required by a growing and an adult horse include sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Clโ), calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+).
Functions of the major ions:
- Sodium (Na+)
Most abundant extracellular ion, maintains blood pressure and nerve impulse, replenishes negative sodium levels due to sweating while exercising, working and in conditions like diarrhoea. - Potassium (K+)
Present as intracellular ion, maintains nerve impulses, cardiac health and in conjunction with Na+ ensures osmotic and acid-base balance. - Chloride (Clโ)
Most significant extracellular anion, helps maintain isotonicity and co-exists with sodium to maintain fluid balance. - Calcium (Ca2+)
Present as extracellular ion, regulates membrane potential (neuromuscular) which is crucial for muscle contraction and relaxation including the cardiac muscles. - Magnesium (Mg2+)
Second most abundant intracellular cation, works as co-factor of various enzymatic activities in numerous metabolic pathways, phosphate transfers, muscle contractility and neuronal transmission.
Over the next week, Rachael is racing in Clonmel, Galway, Wexford, Thurles, Down Royal and Cork. 
Horseaware 