Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD

Everyone has heard about the ketogenic diet by now, or "keto" for short. It is basically a reinvention of the Atkins diet with more emphasis on eating fat. Fasting, starvation, and no or low, simple carbohydrate diets trigger a higher rate of fat oxidation to spare glucose. In omnivores and dogs, a by-product of fat oxidation is the production of ketones — hence the name.

The best diet for EMS horses is similar to ketogenic in that simple carbohydrate intake is very low. However, carb and fat calories are replaced by fiber calories. That very basic fact of equine nutrition and physiology is ignored by a proposal to treat EMS with a ketogenic diet.

Read more: Ketogenic Diet for Horses? Pass

Even mild dehydration can have an effect on performance. Once you know the basics, it's not that difficult to supplement electrolytes correctly, but many people don't know how - and the consequences may be taking more of a toll than is realized.

Electrolytes are minerals that exist in the body in their free, ionized form - i.e. carrying an electrical charge. Cations like calcium, potassium and sodium have positive charges. Anions like chloride, bicarbonate and sulfate are negative.

Movement of electrolytes makes excitatory activity possible, such as muscles contracting, nerves firing and the heart beating. Electrolyte concentrations and gradients also allow the body to hold normal amounts of water (hydration) and the kidneys to adjust the concentration of urine.

Sweat is a major avenue of loss for sodium, potassium, chloride and to a lesser extent calcium and magnesium, but it's not the only avenue.

Read more: The Right Way to Dose Electrolytes