How To Prevent Dehydration in Your Horse

for poor preparation with extra electrolytes. 
The ways in which chronic and acute losses of electrolytes and fluids may be minimized or eliminated are presented briefly here 
1. During the week make sure the horse has a highquality diet and add electrolytes to wetted feeds only if the horse has been working at intensities and durations causing moderate to high sweat losses. Lower losses are easily replenished by normal amounts of electrolytes in the feed and good quality hay. Always make sure that the horse has access to a clean salt block. It may be advisable to break the block up into smaller pieces and place these in the grain bin during the summer to increase salt intake. For many horses the salt block will not give them enough salt. For these horses place a small container fixed to the wall in the stall to hold freerunning salt. Make sure fresh water is always available.
2. One to two hours before the event or before a long trailer ride it may be beneficial to give the horse an oral dose of electrolytes to build up a reservoir in the gut but adequate amounts of water must be provided with oral electrolyte administration. Do not give electrolytes to a horse that is already dehydrated. A high concentration in the gut may actually pull water from the blood increasing the dehydration of the body. Attempt to give at least one gallon of water before or immediately after the dose or give the dose in the water if the horse will drink it. Feeding wet hay andor soaked beet pulp four to five hours before the event may also increase the water in the gut which would be available to the horse when dehydration develops. 
3. Do use electrolyte preparations with glucose dextrose as this promotes sodium and water absorption in the gut. However highsugar supplements can cause a surge of glucose blood glucose in the bloodstream which in turn causes a release of insulin. The insulin causes an uptake of glucose from the blood and could cause the horse to become hypoglycemic sugar crash while exercising. Also avoid highfat supplements as this may slow down the absorption of electrolytes in the gut. Fat supplements are beneficial during training as part of the diet but should not be used during rest breaks. 
4. Supplement water and electrolytes one to two hours before as well