Effect of ad libitum intake of an electrolyte repository in horses that underwent a polo game

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of an electrolyte and energy repository on the hematologic and biochemical variables of horses after a polo game and compare them to the effects of a commercial electrolyte repository and water. Twelve healthy horses, aged 5 to 10 years, mean body weight 356.25 ± 25.6 kg and in training for polo games, were randomly divided into three groups of four animals each and received one of three treatments. Animals participated in a 7-minute polo game. At the end of the match, they were taken to individual stalls where they received treatments for spontaneous hydration for 6 hours. Treatments were Hydroelectrolytic and Energy Repository (RHE) containing sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, magnesium, dextrose, maltodextrin and, sucrose; and Commercial Paste (PCO) containing calcium, fructooligosaccharides, glycine, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and ad libitum water. The control group (Water) received water. Blood samples were collected as follows: just before the beginning of exercise (T0), immediately after exercise (T1), 3 hours after the end of exercise (T3), and 6 hours after the end of exercise (T6). The volume of voluntary intake was measured at T3 and T6. Packed cell volume and serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, creatinine, total protein, plasma glucose, and lactate were measured. Data were submitted to descriptive statistics (mean ± standard deviation), Lilliefors and Cochran & Bartlett tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey or Duncan tests at a 5% significance level. The net volume ingested by the RHE group was higher than the PCO and control groups. In all groups, a reduction in chloride concentration and increases in packed cell volume, protein, creatinine, glucose, and lactate concentrations were observed in T1. These variables returned to the values found at T0 throughout the rehydration phase (T3 and T6). It is concluded that the ingestion of the hydroelectrolytic energy repository does not cause alteration in the biochemical profile of the animals.