With summer officially underway, HIWU would like to remind horsemen and veterinarians of regulations regarding the administration of electrolytes within 48 and 24 hours of a race or Vets’ List workout:
Permitted at any time:
• Salt and mineral blocks.
• Unsupplemented isotonic electrolyte solutions that may be consumed by free choice by the horse, i.e., providing a second water bucket in the stall that has been supplemented with electrolytes.
Permitted up to 24 hours before a race or Vets’ List workout:
• Electrolytes that are administered orally. Examples that fall in this category include powders that are top-dressed or mixed in the feed, as well as electrolytes administered via paste.
• Unsupplemented isotonic electrolyte solutions administered intravenously such as Lactated Ringer’s solution.
• Electrolyte patches.*
Permitted up to 48 hours before a race or Vets’ List workout:
• Electrolytes administered via nasogastric (stomach) tube.
*Since electrolyte patches are not consumed “free choice” by a horse in feed or water, their use is prohibited within 24 hours of a race or Vets’ List workout
The restrictions above only apply in relation to races and Vets' List workouts. Outside of those circumstances, electrolytes may be administered at any time.
The above information can also be found in HIWU’s Electrolyte Guidance resource on our website and app.
Please direct any questions to sciencesupport@hiwu.org.
Yours,
The HIWU Team