7. Never limit fresh water. Horses need as much water as they will drink. Just chewing and digesting dry forage itself requires plenty of fluid; even more crucial is keeping enough water in their systems to keep ingesta moving. If theres not enough, the ingesta can dry and form impactions that block the further flow of food, causing potentially fatal colic. The average horse needs to drink up to seven gallons per day. The actual amount may vary, if for example hes eating drier hay or, conversely, grazing water-rich grass. Most horses naturally drink what they need if they have access to clean water. However, check your horses water daily to make sure its not too hot or too cold---both extremes can discourage drinking. I recently had some colic cases in Arizona where a farms water system was above ground, says Duren. The water was pumped from a well and piped through the ceiling to each stall in the barn. The pipes got too hot during the summer heat and the horses wouldnt drink the water. In cold weather, if youre using heated water tanks/buckets, put your ungloved hand in the water to make sure the units are properly grounded. If you feel a tingle, electricity may be deterring your horse from drinking. Above all, dont withhold water from a horse after exercise. The myth that allowing hot horses to drink cold water will lead to muscle cramps and colic has been thoroughly disproved by several studies.
Posted on: Mon, 12 May 2014 23:45:04 +0000
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