Ensuring your horse stays hydrated is often something we associate with being an issue in the summer months but the winter months can actually be a challenge too as freezing conditions mean some horses can’t access water. Many horses can’t or won’t break the ice that forms on water tanks and troughs and some just won’t drink as much water when it’s cold. This means they could well face issues linked to dehydration.
So, what can be done to help your horse stay hydrated throughout the colder months of the year? Follow this guide, and you should be able to make some informed decisions when it matters the most.
Breaking the ice
Stopping the ice from forming is ideal if possible. A water heater is ideal as warming the water a little will also help to encourage the horse to drink more. Clearly this isn’t always possible especially for outdoor troughs and tanks. One tip is to find an old plastic drink bottle with lid, fill it with water and a cup of salt. The added salt will stop the water from freezing inside the bottle (note – the salt is only in the bottle, not in your animals’ water!). If you float this bottle in your animal’s water trough it will move around and blow in the breeze, helping to prevent your animals water from freezing too.
If ice does form it must be broken down or melted at regular intervals throughout the day which can increase the number of times you need to visit your horse. One study suggested that raising the water to an optimal temperature between to 4-18°C has the potential to increase the amount of water consumed by horses by up to 40%. Adding a 2-litre kettle of boiling water mixed in with 15 litres of cold water at 5°C, will produce a new water temperature of around 16°C, which is far more to a horse’s liking.
Some horse owners fall into the trap of thinking that snow is an adequate water substitute for their horses. This is not the case! Your horse would need approximately 25 buckets of snow, to access 25 litres of water.
Have a Backup Water Supply
It is important that you plan ahead for the winter months, ensuring you are ready for any predicted freezing conditions. Having a backup water supply is a potential way to do this and investing in water carriers is a comparatively low price to pay compared to treating your horse for colic caused by dehydration. Another suggestion is to fill as many buckets as you can and cover them with a rug or matt, which could help with the prevention of the formation of ice. If you keep a kettle within the yard, readily available when the time comes, you can fill up water buckets as and when you need to, which is particularly beneficial for horses prone to colic.
Another way to help your horse consume more water is to use horse feed that needs to be soaked before feeding. Sugar beet is a really digestible form of fibre and can be soaked at between 3-5 parts water to 1 part sugar beet. It shouldn’t be relied on as the only source of water intake but it will help a horse that is reluctant to drink.
