Weekly Watering Hole, Presented by Horse Quencher
Each week our friends at Horse Quencher will be sponsoring a Q&A with riders who are at the top of their sport. To kick things off, however, let’s start with a Q&A with Horse Quencher itself!
Last week we introduced you to Horse Quencher, a mix of all natural grains and flavorings that, when added to water, make horses eagerly drink. You’ll find Horse Quencher especially helpful for travel, competitions, cold weather and illnesses, and also great to pair with electrolytes to aid in recovery after exercise. And, since it’s made of all-natural ingredients found in most horse feeds, you can be sure Horse Quencher is safe for competition.
Now that you know what it is and how it works, we thought we’d let Horse Quencher elaborate on specific questions you might have about the product.
Can I use Horse Quencher along with electrolytes on an endurance ride?
Yes, according to Mike Lennox of KER (Kentucky Equine Research) and Dr. John Fidler of Pennfield Feeds, the manufacturer of Horse Quencher, they comment as follows:
Nancy, I spoke with Mike Lennox at KER about using Horse Quencher during an endurance race. He’s in agreement that it could actually help maintain salt and electrolyte balance. The challenge for these events is to keep the horses hydrated and to maintain electrolyte balance. It’s my understanding that horses may be force-fed electrolytes in preparation for the event. Given that electrolytes by themselves are not palatable, the combination of electrolytes and Horse Quencher would seem to be a winning ticket! Horse Quencher used before the event, or used during the event at rest stops, will not create imbalances with other electrolytes such as calcium or potassium, especially if electrolytes including calcium are administered at the same time. And because re-hydration is the goal, and Horse Quencher helps achieve better water intake, I believe the product will work well when fed during an endurance race.
John Fidler, PhD
VP Technical Services & Procurement
Office 717-295-8746
Mobile 717-587-4644
All of my horses LOVE Horse Quencher and lick the bucket absolutely clean but I have one horse that just won’t try it, what can I do?
You can try scooping up the heavier grains that have settled at the bottom of the bucket and give them to the horse; often the horse will then understand that the treat at the bottom is worth drinking the entire bucket of water!Letting the bucket of Horse Quencher steep for awhile also helps enhance the flavors for the resistant horse.Making the Horse Quencher stronger at first; put in ¾ cup or an entire cup and then let it sit for awhile before offering it to the horse.
Is Horse Quencher safe to use with my pregnant Mare?Horse Quencher was developed by one of our partners because her pregnant mare would not drink water. It is made up of all natural ingredients that are already in a horse’s diet and is a safe way to hydrate the pregnant mare. We always recommend checking with your veterinarian if you have any special concerns about using Horse Quencher.
How often can I use Horse Quencher?
Many of our customers use a gallon of Horse Quencher every day to help maintain their hydration.
Can I add Horse Quencher to my horse’s regular feed to make him drink more?Horse Quencher is designed to be mixed with water; however, some Veterinarians suggest adding a scoop to the horse’s feed if they resist the water mixture. After horses get used to it, they usually will enjoy Horse Quencher mixed in their water.
Can I use Horse Quencher as a treat?
Yes. We encourage you to mix Horse Quencher into your horse’s water as a treat. That way he will be used to it and when you need him to get hydrated right away, he will drink!
My horses fight over Horse Quencher, any suggestions?Offering separate buckets of Horse Quencher for each horse usually helps. Securing the bucket to the fence also helps so they don’t kick over the bucket while trying to get to the bottom!
I have an IR (Insulin Resistant) Horse, can I use Horse Quencher?
We always tell our customers to check with their veterinarian first for the best advice. The molasses content of Horse Quencher is a trace amount at 8 %.
What is the shelf life of a bucket of Horse Quencher?
We recommend that you use the contents within one year after opening. Storing in a cool, dry place increases the shelf life.
Should I mix Horse Quencher in warm water or cold?
We recommend warm water in the winter, especially on those cold winter mornings. Your horses will really love it. Otherwise cool water is fine.
Go Horse Quencher, and Go Riding!
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