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Reasons for performing study Treatment of metabolic acidosis using sodium bicarbonate solutions is safe when blood gas analysis is available. The evidence that solutions containing metabolisable buffers can be used as an alternative for treatment of metabolic acidosis in horses is of practical interest. Objectives To investigate the safety and efficacy of a polyionic solution containing 84 mEq/l of lactate (L84) for the correction of induced hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis. Study design Non-randomised crossover design. Methods Five healthy, adult, crossbred horses were used. A solution containing 100 mmol/l of HCl was infused intravenously (100 ml/kg bwt) for 5 h to induce metabolic acidosis. Metabolic acidosis was induced in each horse twice, with a minimum 15-day interval after recovery from the first induction: the first time no treatment was administered (control group) and the second time horses were treated with an intravenous infusion of L84 solution, 100 ml/kg bwt for 5 h, beginning 3 h after the end of HCl infusion. Venous blood samples were taken at 0, 2.5, 5, 8, 10.5, 13, 24 and 48 h; and urine at 0, 5, 8 and 13 h. Laboratory data included pH (blood and urine), PCO2 , HCO3- , base excess, total plasma protein concentration, l-lactate, Na+ , K+ , Cl- , strong ion difference (SID4 ), anion gap, change in plasma volume and fractional excretions of Na+ , K+ and Cl- . Effects of time and treatment were tested by 2-way repeated measures ANOVA. Results Severe hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis was induced. In the untreated horses, correction of the imbalance occurred gradually, and mild acidosis was still present at 48 h. In horses treated with the L84 solution, acidosis was corrected by the end of the infusion. There were no adverse effects with the administration of the L84 solution. Conclusions A polyionic solution containing 84 mEq/l of lactate effectively corrected induced metabolic acidosis in horses within 5 h.