My left arm didn’t work so well but we continued on to the ride. I had to be tossed onto my horse, as I couldn’t grip well enough to pull myself on. Thank goodness Tia wasn’t being Tia! She kept to a steady pace and we completed the ride that day. Moral of the story: if you can’t be a good example then be a horrible warning. Don’t be trying this method at home folks. If your horse is fussy about a syringe in the mouth start with things they will like. Applesauce
TALES
is a good one to use — get them started with that. Once they realize you aren’t always trying to put unappetizing stuff in their mouths they do so much better. I still have to ensure Tia swallows,
BY DARICE WHYTE
as she has a great ability to hold stuff in her mouth and then spit it out when I thought she had swallowed. She gets extra patting on her throat to encourage swallowing.
How Not to Electrolyte Your Horse I am an Arabian lover who lives in Manitoba, Canada. I grew up with Arabians, but since life got in the way, I had to wait 30 years to have a horse again. There was absolutely no doubt in my mind that horse would be an Arabian.
Endura-Max, and Perform ’N Win®. Perform ’N Win® is only available in the U.S. There are many articles on the Internet pertaining to electrolytes and your
I
horse. And, like all things horse related, there are lots of different ideas
’ll be the first one to admit that I’m a bit of a klutz. The fact that I’ve
on the matter of electrolytes for your horse. The best thing
broken both arms three times is probably a good testament to that. I’m
is to choose a method that works
also not super capable with a syringe. I generally miss, end up wearing
for your horse.
it, or whatever I was trying to administer gets spat out onto the ground.
I presently have three purebred Arabians and one Anglo-
That being the case, I usually have my friend, Dianne, do the syringe
Arabian. If all goes well, there will be a purebred foal in the
business as she’s much better at it than I am.
spring to add to my herd.
There are lots of different types of electrolytes out there. I have used Northern Lytes,
We were headed to a ride and wanted to electrolyte the horses. As it was a nasty day with a big wind and rain, we thought we’d give the horses the
I have been competing in endurance with my mare Beau Tia
electrolytes in the trailer. Tia was being fussy so we got the brilliant idea to tie
Maria (Albatross x Beau Brandy) since 2011. There was
her a bit shorter. I was holding her halter while Dianne was to dose her. Well,
a steep learning curve, especially with the longer distances,
one minute I was standing at her head and the next minute I was tossed onto
but I have gained a lot of knowledge through our journey.
the trailer floor by her back feet! All this before I could even say, “Bob’s your
I have also had a ton of fun despite things not always going
uncle!” Lucky for me Tia isn’t a kicker nor did she step on me while I lay at
as planned! In 2016 I achieved a childhood dream by
her feet. And she had ample time to try to stomp me into oblivion as I was
completing the Tevis Cup ride in California with Tia. One
a bit stunned by what had just happened.
day I hope to do it again.
I lay there thinking I might puke as my shoulder didn’t feel so good. Once I didn’t feel so green, I got up and I went into the house to assess the
Tevis ride. It was the journey of a lifetime for me and, much
damage. My husband took one look at me and said, “What’s going on? You
to my surprise, Arabian Horse World asked to print my
have straw in your hair!” I thought, look closer as I’m sure there’s horse
story in their magazine in September 2016. Who says no
$h!t in there too! He thought it was a bad omen and that we should forget
to that? I grew up reading the magazine and never in my
about going. I, of course, wasn’t having any part of that nonsense. Jamie, my
wildest dreams did I think I’d be writing articles for it. So
husband, always tells me when something happens to me, “you’ve been hurt
here goes!
worse.” This was merely a minor setback.
DARICE WHYTE PHOTO
I had Dianne drag me away from her feet until I felt like I could stand up. I had so much fun chronicling our trek to and during the
Darice’s five-year-old Anglo-Arabian mare Prairie Winds Golden Serenade (Guaranteed Gold x Wicker Melody), whom she hopes is her next Tevis Cup horse. 90 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b AUGUST 2017
91 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b AUGUST 2017