What are electrolytes? There are five main electrolytes required by horses, namely: Sodium (Na+), Chloride (Cl-), Potassium (K+), Magnesium (Mg²+) and Calcium (Ca²+) and all play important roles within the horses’ body. In fact, electrolytes are needed for almost all bodily functions, including fluid regulation and balance, digestion, the acid-base (pH) status of the horse and vital neurological functions such as muscle contraction for optimum performance. Sodium, chloride and potassium are the three most important electrolytes and of these, sodium is often considered the principal electrolyte¹ and is the main regulator of thirst. Horses produce sweat to cool down the body when exercising and this sweat contains the five major electrolytes in differing amounts¹. Electrolyte losses through sweat can be substantial due to the sheer volume of sweat produced by horses (up to 10-15 litres per hour!) When high amounts of electrolytes are lost through exercise, they need to be replaced to enhance recovery and keep the horse healthy and hydrated. THAT’S WHERE THESE FUNKY TREATS COME IN! After about a year of testing different treats, Renee’s business began to trot toward something bigger. “We found an inventor who works at a pharmaceutical candy company inMaryland, and she helped us come up with the formula, which is what we have now. Basically, every single cube has the exact number of electrolytes the horse needs. They’re cold compressed cubes, so they hold together well. You can put them in your pocket; plus, they have much less sugar than a regular sugar cube.” Plus, the horses seem to love them; “We had to do taste testing with the horses,” Renee shares. “It took around five iterations to get it right, until we were super happy with it. The horses picked the flavors, which are the ones we carry now—banana, apple, and mint. Horses are a great test audience because they have no social agenda— they just eat it, or they don’t,” she jokes. Thankfully, the horses just can’t get enough. Literally! “There’s nothing in them that is unsafe. It’s basically sugar, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. You can’t overfeed them; there’s nothing dangerous about the ingredients, which our friends really loved. Because we’re so invested in the horse community here in Ocala, we were able to tap into dedicated horse owners, trainers, veterinarians, athletes, and friends. For several moths or longer, we gave out samples and each one came with feedback sheets. Very rarely did anyone have any criticism, and when they did, it actually made the product better. Flash forward two years, and Renee’s biggest challenge is keeping the treats in stock.“This is not a medical product, at least not yet, but we are proud to say that we’ve work with Dr. Courtney Varney from Ocala Equine Hospital since the beginning. Having that professional input was so important to us, to make sure what we were creating was safe,” says Renee. “Now we know of many other veterinarians who are recommending our product, which is fantastic! Our motto is ‘Horse Treats with Purpose’, so we’re trying to focus on treats that will be rewards for the horses, but also beneficial to their health. In fact, in 2023, we’re hoping to launch at least one, if not two new products that Dr. Varney is helping us develop! It’s really so exciting. I love horses, and I love this community so much. It feels great to contribute a product that I know is helping solve a very real problem.” Whether it’s in the dressage ring, on the race track, on the trail, or simply a hot day in the pasture, Funky Unicorn Treats is poised to become the Gatorade of the equestrian community. “When you can get a horse to hydrate, you improve quality of life and performance. I’m just so very happy to be helping so many horses in that way.” WINTER/SPRING SEASON 2023 | OCALA HORSE PROPERTIES 128 | OCALAHORSEPROPERTIES.COM To advertise Your Farm in this publication, please call (352) 615-8891 Sodium Na+ Chloride Cl- Potassium K+ Magnesium Mg²+ Calcium Ca²+
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