Most electrolytes are made with one goal in mind: replace sodium and chloride. That approach works in straightforward heat and sweat loss situations, but hydration in horses is rarely that simple.

Cellular fluid balance is controlled by a network of electrolytes, hormones, and transport signals. When those systems are disrupted, the issue isn’t just what is lost, it’s how well your horse is able to move and retain water where it’s needed. That’s where we come in.

Take a look at Hydrate + Recover™ next to an average, apple-flavored electrolyte:

Your horse’s body is constantly working to keep its internal environment from getting too acidic or too alkaline. That balance matters because every system depends on it staying stable.

During stress or even changes in feed and water intake, your horse’s body naturally produces acids and signals for specific electrolytes to help manage those changes. The challenge comes when those demands or stressors build up or happen faster than their body can manage naturally.

When that happens, muscles don’t contract as smoothly, cells don’t replenish fluid as quickly, energy becomes depleted, and recovery takes longer. Real world: your horse is tired, burnt out, and can’t bounce back from stress or exercise.

Metabolic pH is maintained by supporting these systems through careful cation-anion balance:

• Cations are positively charged minerals (like sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium). They help maintain acid–base balance indirectly by influencing fluid balance and strong ion differences.
• Anions are negatively charged (like chloride and bicarbonate) and help regulate acid balance. Some push acid load, while others buffer and stabilize pH to keep muscles firing and fatigue in check.

Hydrate + Recover™ uses a dietary cation-anion balance designed to help maintain normal metabolic pH through a carefully balanced inclusion of these ingredients.

Prefer to listen on the go? Check our Episode #33 | Metabolic pH & Anhidrosis of The Feed Room Chemist podcast with Dr. Jyme Nichols for more about metabolic pH.

Simple - to stay hydrated at the cellular level, replace lost electrolytes and balance metabolic pH! No matter the season or climate, all horses can benefit from the addition of electrolytes, especially those who sweat a lot. Why? Electrolytes are vital to many key functions in the body including:

Hydrate + Recover™ can also nutritionally support, not treat or cure, the conditions listed below.  If your horse presents with any of the following conditions, a veterinarian should be consulted for proper treatment and management.

• Tying Up: To reduce the incidence and/or severity of tying up in performance horses or those with muscle myopathies (MYHM, PSSM, RER, etc.). Administer 2 scoops per day. For best results give 1 scoop AM and PM.
• Impaction Colic Prevention: Maintaining adequate hydration of the small and large intestine is important to prevent impaction colic. Administer 1 - 2 scoops per day.
• Transport: Keeping horses hydrated and drinking while being transported or at shows and other events is critical for normal digestive function, appetite and muscle function. Beginning 3 days prior to transport, administer 2 scoops per day and continue daily while at the event.
• Stamina & Heat Tolerance: Exercise stamina and heat tolerance are closely related. To support one or both simultaneously administer 2 scoops per day as long as one or both of these attributes continues to be a desired benefit.
• Anhidrosis (Non-Sweaters): No single product or protocol has proven to be 100% effective in reversing anhidrosis in horses. The proper use of Hydrate + Recover™ has been demonstrated to be reasonably effective in helping horses presenting with anhidrosis to experience a normal sweat reflex. Administer 6 scoops per day (2 scoops given 3 times is preferred) until a normal sweat reflex is observed. Continue administering 6 scoops per day for three more days then reduce to 2 scoops per day. If your horse stops sweating, increase to 6 scoops per day and repeat until they are able to maintain a normal sweat reflex. Note: once your horse establishes a normal sweat reflex the amount administered per day can be adjusted to fit their individual needs.

Hydrate + Recover™ can be used on a year round basis.  Maintaining normal water intake and hydration is just as important in the winter as it is in the summer.  

Research shows that rather than trying to replace what’s already been depleted, supporting your horse ahead of work can help prevent an electrolyte deficiency altogether. Horses supplemented with electrolytes prior to exercise also demonstrated improved stamina and better post-workout recovery.

Even with minimal activity, studies show horses in hot conditions can lose around 4 liters of sweat per hour, just over a gallon. For horses in work or those that naturally sweat more, losses can reach up to 16 liters in a single hour. That’s more than 4 gallons of fluid, along with the electrolytes that are lost with it!

Yes. We recommend feeding plain white salt alongside Hydrate + Recover™ to ensure baseline sodium needs are consistently met. Every horse’s needs are different, and salt intake is not a one-size fits all measure.

Because we don’t rely on excess salt as a filler, Hydrate + Recover™ remains a concentrated, effective formula, while allowing owners to control and adjust salt intake separately based on their horse’s needs.

The average 1000lb horse should be consuming around 2 tablespoons of plain white salt per day, year-round. This equals over 2 pounds per month! As temperatures rise or work load increases, that requirement can be 2 to 4 times higher! 

What about a salt block or brick instead? Let's do some math: A horse should go through a 4 lb salt "brick" every 1 to 2 months if it is their only source of salt. However, many horses don't enjoy licking blocks for the length of time it would take to consume their daily salt requirement so they just go without. For that reason, we recommend loose salt offered free choice or top dressed on daily feed.

While hay and feed both contain trace minerals and electrolytes, they aren’t enough to replace those lost in sweat or battle the effects of dehydration. Here are some reasons you won’t see the recommended daily salt levels included in our feed formulas:

• Salt requirements change dramatically based on workload, environmental conditions, etc so it's not possible to take that into account on the formulation side. For example, a horse in heavy work in Florida during the summer and a horse in heavy work in Montana during the winter would need the same amount of grain, but their salt requirements will be different.

• Salt can take up valuable room in a feed formula, and we believe that room is better utilized for nutritional technology.

• There are many forms and sources of salt available, and owners may prefer to tailor their offerings to their individual horses…we support that!

• Too much salt can make feed less palatable.

No. Hydrate + Recover™ paste and powder contain zero added sugar, dextrose, or dyes.

Many supplements will add large amounts of sugar (glucose), to make the product more palatable, so be sure to check labels for added sugar levels. While some added sugar will be okay for some horses, too much can dilute the amount of electrolytes per serving. Additionally, concentrations of sugar can cause gastric distress and be harmful to horses with metabolic conditions.

Yes! In fact, we love Hydrate + Recover™ for metabolically sensitive horses. It contains ZERO added sugar and it includes chromium to help support glycogen uptake and healthy metabolic function. As always, if your horse has a diagnosed condition, we recommend working with your veterinarian or nutritionist to tailor the best program for them.

Yes! Lasix (furosemide) is commonly used in bleeders, horses that bleed during exercise, to reduce fluid pressure. It works by telling the kidneys to pull more sodium, chloride, and water out of the bloodstream and into the urine. That helps manage pressure, but it also means your horse is losing both fluid and key electrolytes. Without those minerals, the body has a harder time pulling water back into cells and staying properly hydrated.

When used after Lasix, Hydrate +Recover™:

• Replaces electrolytes lost through increased urination (sodium, potassium, chloride)
• Helps restore fluid balance so water can move back into cells, not just pass through
• Supports normal muscle and nerve function after fluid and mineral loss
• Helps horses rehydrate more efficiently and recover faster after work or racing

Yes, Hydrate + Recover™ is a drug-free formula and is show safe. Read more about Bluebonnet's ionophore stance and safety standards here, or listen to Feed Room Chemist Episode #10.

It depends! Exercise and heat dramatically increases the amount of water your horse needs.

An average 1000 pound horse, NOT in work, drinks 5-7 gallons per day. However, under high temperatures, this same horse’s water intake could be more than 20 gallons per day! That’s a huge increase!

This doesn’t even factor in exercise. In one study, horses exercised at high temperatures and high humidity increased their water intake 79% for four hours.

We highly recommend being familiar with how much your horse normally drinks. As a general rule, expect your horse drink at least 2-3 times as much water during hot temperatures and/or high humidity. Don’t forget the colder seasons too. Just because temperatures are low, doesn’t mean a horse needs less water.

1. Water temperature - Horses tend to prefer water in the range of about 45–65°F. Cold winter water can slow drinking, while overly warm summer water becomes less appealing and may signal “stale” or stagnant conditions to the horse. Research has shown horses may drink significantly more in winter when water is kept warm and accessible, sometimes up to ~40% more. Here's what can help:
   1. • Keep winter water from freezing (heated or insulated tanks)
      • Offer warmer water in cold conditions when possible
      • In summer, keep troughs shaded to prevent overheating
2. Weather and seasonal stress - Temperature changes directly affect hydration demand. In summer, water loss increases through sweat, even at rest. In winter, horses often drink less even though hydration needs remain steady for digestion and metabolic function.
3. Dirty or unpalatable water sources - Horses are far more sensitive to taste and smell than we assume. Algae, dirt, hay debris, or shifts in mineral content (pH and hardness) can all reduce water intake. If you can’t clearly see the bottom of your water tank or bucket, it’s time to clean! Although your hay-dunking gelding may disagree - most horses are quite sensitive to changes in their water source.
4. Electrolytes or salt IN water - Any change in taste can reduce voluntary water intake. Some horses tolerate this without issue, but many will not. For this reason, we recommend providing electrolytes in a paste or powder form, where intake is more measurable and does not affect water palatability.
5. Not enough total water access - A typical horse needs about 5-7 gallons of water per day in cool conditions. That requirement can increase up to 30 gallons in heat, even without exercise, due to thermoregulation processes and increased fluid turnover. If water access is limited, intake will drop before dehydration becomes visible.
6. Herd dynamics - Dominant horses may control access to shared water sources. In group settings, more passive horses may delay or reduce drinking to avoid conflict, especially when already heat-stressed. Pro tip: keep multiple large water sources available spread apart in herd situations.
7. Stress (environmental, physical, or emotional) - Stress changes hydration behavior and drinking patterns long before clinical signs of dehydration appear. This can come from heat index, travel, new environments, new neighbors or herdmates, pain, increased workload, and more

Signs of dehydration are based on both physical exam findings and changes in behavior. If gone unnoticed, dehydration can lead to permanent tissue damage and colic. Contact your veterinarian if you notice major changes in behavior or extreme physical signs.

Watch for:

• Delayed skin-tent: Gently pinch the skin on your horse’s neck or shoulder. In a well-hydrated horse, it should snap back quickly once released. A delay of a few seconds or “tented” appearance could indicate dehydration.

• Delayed capillary refill time: Press on your horse’s gums for a few seconds and then release. Color should return within about 1-2 seconds. A slow return to color could suggest dehydration or poor circulation.

• Tacky or dry gums: Healthy gums should feel moist and slick. Dry or sticky gums can be an indicator of dehydration. If your horse is drinking, wait a few minutes before examining their gums.

• Reduced manure output: Water is a main driver of gut motility. To put it simply, if they stop pooping, it’s a problem. Manure can appear dry or extra firm even when fresh if your horse is lacking hydration.

• Sunken eyes & drawn flank: Dehydrated horses may have a dull appearance with sunken eyes, and may appear tight or drawn in their flank area.

• Lethargy: General lack of energy, slower recovery, and unwillingness to work can indicate your horse isn’t feeling well. 

It’s commonly believed that it isn’t safe to give a hot horse cold water to drink. This is not true.

A recent study found water temperature (ambient vs. chilled) to have no effect on horses' health or consumption during hot summer weather.

There is no need to restrain your horse from water after a workout, or to warm up water before they are allowed to drink.

Check our Episode #67 | Cold Water + Hot Horse of The Feed Room Chemist podcast with Dr. Jyme Nichols for more on this very topic. (Check out the show notes for research links!)