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tips for getting your horse to drink water in the winter?

6K views 14 replies 10 participants last post by  appylover31803 
#1 ·
"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink."

Does anyone find that their horse drinks less water in the winter because its so cold out? I know Jubilee hates the really cold water. Our barn has heated water troughs in both paddocks, but in sub-zero temp, ice starts to form on top and its gets really cold. I try to fill buckets of water for Jubi whenever I can, but sometimes she isn't interested in drinking. I've heard that jello powder and apple juice can be used. What works for you guys?
 
#6 · (Edited)
I would try putting a bucket of warm water in front of them when feeding.
my guys would almost suck a 5gal. bucket dry in the evenings. I would refill
it before leaving the barn.

for the big rubbermaid tubs, frame in the tub, add foam or fiberglass insulation
then use plywood to cover the sides. Then take foam insulation and cut it so it fits
inside the top 1/2 of the tub and cover that with foam with plywood to make a cover for 1/2 of the opening leave 1/2 open for them to drink. This will help keep the water warm and help the heating elements (not run so much) so you save on electric.
 
#8 ·
Because T is so electric current sensitive, I can't use my de-icer for the water tank. So what I do to get her to drink a lot in the winter is soak her feed, than I bring out a 5 gallon bucket of very warm water when she's 3/4 done her hay. Sucks it right down! I have resorted to adding salt to her feed without much results, though she does use the salt lick.
Walka get water in his feed, but he doesn't mind the temp of water in the tank so right now his water intake isn't a concern.

Regal Charm, like your suggestion about insulating the tank, going to give that a try, thanks.
 
#12 ·
Jubilee Rose;249022Does anyone find that their horse drinks less water in the winter because its so cold out? I know Jubilee hates the really cold water. Our barn has heated water troughs in both paddocks said:
If you have heated troughs, but they still form ice,then they are not heated properly.

My girls drink WAY more in the winter in general because the air is much drier here in the winter than in the summer. Their water is just a little bit cooler than lukewarm.

She should have salt available always. Some horses drink more than others. With only one horse, I hardly had to add water daily to my trough, but when Jade arrived, the consumption more than tripled! Does Jubilee still pee lots? She may just not be a big drinker.
 
#13 ·
NM, I'd say she pees quite a bit. I see her do it at least once each time I'm out there. Hmm... my BO may have not had the trough on the right setting? I'm not sure about that. It was just iced around the edges - the horses could still get at it. How do I give her salt if she's outside 24/7? There's salt-licks in the stalls, but she's hardly in a stall and I've never seen her use one. :?
 
#14 ·
That she is peeing and you see it, is a very good thing. For salt licks outside, is there any kind of a post or tree that has some coverage that you could put a block out for her? Actually, even without coverage, those great big blocks last a long time despite the weather and all you need to do is find a place a bit away from the regular paths that stays dry and the horses don't poop in. If you have a nice flat rock to put it on, that helps.
 
#15 ·
in the warm months, my BO puts out either mineral blocks and/or salt blocks (Salt where ever Vega is) She has a this pan she puts it in and then puts it in the field. It's ground level.

I've seen all the horses go over to it and take a few licks from it, either before drinking or right after.
 
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