Whether you’re experiencing summer and hot weather or winter and enduring the cold, hydration remains key to the health of our horses and ponies.
Automatic watering troughs can seem like a great idea- helping ensure our horses have water available 24/7. In reality, however, many horses that rely on automatic watering systems, particularly small ones commonly found in stables and yards, actually have a high risk of being dehydrated.
There are multiple reasons why horses may not consume enough water from automatic troughs:
- They tend to refill at a slower rate than most horses drink. Many horses won’t remain at the waterer long enough to consume adequate water
- The noise or sensation of them refilling can scare some horses
- Many automatic troughs require an unnatural position for a horse to consume water from
- The water temperature can become excessively cold or overly warm (depending on the weather), which can discourage some horses
- The small, shallow design of many troughs can make it difficult for them to drink from
- Automatic troughs can be susceptible to stray voltage, giving horses an ‘electric shock’
- If they’re not cleaned regularly enough, they can smell and accumulate spoiled feed, insects, debris, algae, etc.
Ensuring our horses and ponies are properly hydrated is essential for their gastrointestinal (GI) health– one of the many natural ways to help prevent the development of gastric ulcers and colic. Adequate hydration is also essential for overall health, performance and recovery.
Camilla Whishaw is a highly regarded, experienced horsewoman and naturopath, helping to holistically treat and manage a broad range of equine health conditions and injuries, with a passion for mare and stallion fertility.
As a world-renowned practitioner, presenter, author, and consultant in the field of Equine Naturopathy, Camilla shares her knowledge through keynote presentations, interviews, lectures, panel sessions, and workshop training.
