Pride Project On-Site Electrolyte Results

If you are interested in have your horse participate in the Pride Project, email Dr. Fleming

This test was taken on my horse Weaver, at the Gambler's Special 50 in April, 2000. The horse was also weighed, before during and after the event. Total weight loss during the ride was 6 {six} pounds. 6:39 ride time.
ITEM BEFORE* DURING** AFTER*** ITEM AVG.~ ~ RANGE
pH 7.43 7.435 7.437 pH 7.38 7.44
PC02 42.4 42.6 42.9 PC02 35 47
PO2 35 37 38 P02 30 45
BE 4 4 5 BE 0 6
Hc03 28 29 29 Hc03 22 33
TC02 29 30 30 Hc03 22 33
S02 69 72 70 S02 45 .
Na 140 141 141 Na 133 145
K 3 3.7 3.4 K 2.2 4.6
iCa 1.5 1.45 1.53 iCa 1.25 1.75
HCT 38 37 42 HCT 32% 52%
Hb 13 16 14 Hb 11 19
Glucose n/a 93 99

*Before: Blood was drawn at the pre-ride vet in the day before the ride.

**During: Taken at the vet check. On this particular ride, there was one vet check at 35 miles. Blood is drawn as soon as we get there.

***After: Blood is drawn as soon as we cross the finish line.

In case anybody is interested, here is my electrolyte protocol for this horse (for that ride).

The electrolyte program I am currently using has evolved over many years and many miles......I do not recommend or suggest that anybody do what I do. Just because it works for my horse does not mean that it will work for your horse! You need to work out for yourself how to manage your horse. Electrolyte supplementation is important, however, there are many other factors just as if not more important such as weather conditions, difficulty of terrain, weather conditions, conditioning level, feed program, and each horse is an individual. Don't just jump in and do something because somebody else is doing it!

Blended together in blender.

2 cups of Enduramax
1 cup of Optamax (a probiotic)
1 can of applesauce.

Each 60 cc syringe holds between 1.25 to 1.5 oz. of Enduramax, and .5 to .75 oz. of Optamax. I sometimes mix in a little oil (or water), and spray the syringe tips with cooking spray. I mix, let it sit an hour or so, and mix again so that the electrolytes are fully disolved before filling the syringes.

Horse was preloaded before we left. 1 ounce 2x a day starting on Wednesday night. Kept giving him the elytes at the ride. I rode my other horse on the first day of the ride (it was a 2 day ride), so Weaver had the added stress of *not* being ridden on that day (trust me, he's less stressed getting to go 50 miles than he is by NOT getting to go).

Then on ride day:

1 dose 2 hours prior to the start
1 dose at 14 mile water
1 dose at next water, 17 miles farther (ummm....31 miles)
1 dose at lunch check in camp (35 miles)
1 dose on next 15 mile loop
1 dose after finishing
1 dose later that evening
1 dose in the a.m. before leaving for home (9 hour trailer trip)

Then continued post-ride care as usual (basically I give the horses whatever leftover elytes I have) :+) **Everytime I dose during the ride, it is because the horse just drank.

NOTE: I did not give any carbo charge to this horse at that ride.

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