06/13/2022
Have you heard this myth? Read the full post to see why it isn’t true and get tips on hydrating your horse in this heat!
Following up on last week’s popular post regarding heat stress in horses, and in preparation of the hot temperatures headed our way, today we are going to debunk the myth that allowing a hot, sweaty horse to drink cold water could lead to colic, founder or tie up.
The notion that a hot, recently exercised horse needs to cool down before drinking water is indeed a myth, so be advised that it is best to rehydrate sweaty, hardworking horses without delay. The key, however, is to know how much water to allow at one time! Because of the equine stomach’s relatively small capacity, offer small amounts of water every 20 minutes until the horse drinks his fill rather than letting the animal drink it all at once. A slower reintroduction of water is good common sense, while it makes no sense to hold horses off it.
Remember that water is the most vital nutrient for a horse. The average idle 1,100-pound horse in a cool environment will drink 6 to 10 gallons of water per day, but that amount may easily double or triple in a hot environment! Therefore, it goes without saying that providing cool, clean water to your horses at ALL times is of paramount importance.
Source: Equus Magazine and AAEP member Dr. Anthony Blikslager. More information about offering a horse water can be found at https://equusmagazine.com/horse-care/offering-a-horse-water-after-exercise-8622/
