Electrolyte balance is critical for working horse welfare, with deficiencies causing muscle problems, reduced performance, and serious metabolic complications in endurance and heavy work.
Electrolyte management is a welfare responsibility for owners and trainers of working horses. Horses that work without adequate electrolyte replacement accumulate deficits that affect muscle function, gut motility, and thermoregulation. Tying-up — a painful muscle condition — is associated with electrolyte imbalances among other factors. The relationship between sweating, electrolytes, and water is complex: electrolyte supplementation stimulates drinking, making it a useful tool for encouraging water intake, but must always be accompanied by free water access. Working horse welfare requires understanding and managing this relationship through appropriate supplementation strategies tailored to workload and conditions.