Winter water 💧

❄Winter Challenges❄

It can be hard work and sometimes problematic to keep the water supplies available to your horse in this freezing weather. Adult horses can drink between 24-36 litres (approximately 3-4 buckets) of water per day and this can increase to 40-45 litres (approximately 5-6 buckets) per day, with an increase in forage.

Water plays an important role in hydration and digestion. If your horse doesn’t have enough water, it can affect how food passes along the gut, increasing the risk of impaction colic. A risk that can increase through the winter if additional forage is being fed, but not enough water is being consumed.

To help your horse stay hydrated:

🧊Check for, and remove any ice, twice a day in water troughs

❄Have water containers filled ready in case pipes freeze

🌡Adding some warm water to stabled horses’ buckets can encourage them to drink

🍎Try adding apples to your horse’s water to encourage them to drink