01/22/2024
Happy Monday!
We’re sticking on the cold weather health tips and tricks while the cold still lingers - though we hear rumor of a warming trend that will take us back above freezing in these parts for at least a little bit! Woohoo! Celebration! But that doesn’t mean our cold weather woes are anywhere near over. It’s still only January, after all.
The good news is that these tips to get your horses hydrated are tips you can use year-round and during travel when your horse is least likely to drink and most likely to be picky about the flavor of water at your destination!
Something as simple as rinsing your buckets with a peppermint-flavored mouthwash during cleaning could be enough to keep your horse happily hydrating!
Temperature is a big deal when it comes to horses and their drinking water preference. Keeping water between 45F and 65F seems to be their sweet spot when it comes to getting them to drink. This can be especially hard during temperature extremes presented by Winter and Summer living.
In Winter, the use of insulated and heated buckets and safe trough/tank heaters can take the chill off the water and stop it from freezing over. Of course, you’ll want to be hypervigilant about anything you keep plugged in and will want to check wires, outlets, and plugs at least twice daily while also making sure that you choose a trough/tank heater designed specifically for use with the material your trough/tank is made out of; metal, rubber, plastic etc. You’ll still want to check them twice daily and never let them continue to operate in a dry waterer.
In Summer, keeping buckets and troughs/heaters out of direct sunlight and dumping/refreshing them frequently can not only keep them in prime temperature for optimal equine enjoyment but also keep the development of bacteria and algae to a minimum. A win win.
You may consider bringing a gallon or 5 of water from home while you travel and using it to sort of "flavor" the water as you travel. Providing a horse with water they are familiar with has been proven to encourage them to drink while on the road if they're picky.
Alternatively, flavoring a horse's water is certainly a great option as well and can be used on the road, at show, at home etc.
Flavoring options are nearly endless, but these are our favorite options;
Adding 20 ounces of clear soda or an electrolyte drink such as Gatorade or Powerade (no, we’re not sponsored, but hey we’re always open to chat!) per gallon of water is a great way to convince a horse to drink.Just make sure that if you’re adding soda to water that the soda is caffeine free. This is especially important if you’re at a show or race or anywhere else where your horse is subject to drug testing. Giving horses caffeine is illegal and may trigger a positive drug test under the American Quarter Horse Association and United State Equestrian Federation drug testing programs and in racing jurisdictions. Our go to is Sprite or Starry.
Circling back to the use of electrolytes - the use of premade electrolyte beverages is not your only option, but they are convenient and easily found at grocery stores and gas stations.
The good news is that if you'd prefer not to add artificial dyes to your horse's water (as are commonly found in human-grade electrolyte beverages) there are a bunch of equine electrolyte products, that can be added directly to your horse's water or given as an oral gel or paste, available on the market. Just make sure to always follow the instructions listed on the product's label and to be sure that there is an adequate supply of water available for your horse as electrolytes can further dehydrate your horse if water is not available. You may also want to provide an additional fresh water source free of flavored products just in case your horse decides they're not a fan.
Apple Cider vinegar and/or molasses are great alternatives to soda. However, Molasses will need to be melted and stirred into WARM water for best effect or else it'll just congeal at the bottom of your waterer and do zero to entice anything but a couple of cuss words the next time you scrub your buckets. Apple Cider Vinegar and Molasses are both aromatics that horses love. Being added to warm water as a "tea" makes the odor stronger and your horse is more likely to find it irresistible.
In that same vein, there are quite a few commercial water additives available that are designed to promote drinking. All of them consist of a combination of ingredients that enhance the taste and smell of water the same way apple cider vinegar and molasses will and are usually best used with warm water. Again, just like with the electrolyte options, make sure to follow the directions provided on the product label while using these products.
Mashes are another amazing option to encourage hydration and you’re certainly not limited to only liquifying your horse’s usual grain to make a mash either! Quite a few feed companies offer commercial mash blends designed specifically to encourage drinking by adding options such as additional salt, electrolytes, banana chips etc. You’ll want to carefully read labels and be sure they work for your horse and don’t contain anything that may hurt them or complicate any disorders your horse may have (HYPP, PSSM, Cushings etc).
On the note of mashes… Recent studies have shown that bran mashes are NOT a good source of hydration and actually produce the opposite effect by encouraging loose manure - a source of lost hydration. Bran mashes are great when used to help clear potential sand from your horse’s gut and keep it moving, but they should be used sparingly and not for purposes of trying to hydrate your horse or used when your horse’s hydration levels are already compromised
As always, we seriously encourage you to have these conversations with your vet and equine nutritionist and hope that these tips and tricks can help you keep your horse ahead of the curve when it comes to hydration!
Do you have any tips or tricks we didn’t cover? Drop ‘em in the comments below!
