WHAT are electrolytes and how important are they for horse performance? Electrolytes are substances that, when dissolved in water, separate and form a pair of charged atoms or molecules. These charged atoms or molecules are called ions and are positively or negatively charged.

Examples of such ions that are important for physiological function include sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and chloride (Cl-). When it comes to horses, these electrolytes, or ions, play a very important role where they help maintain nerve and muscle activity.