Horses and Water

Temperatures are soaring in many parts of the country and it is important to remember how crucial water is to keeping horses healthy. Always ensure your horses have access to fresh, clean water at an appropriate temperature and ensure that they are drinking the fluids provided. Water consumption is extremely important in the digestive process to avoid colic impaction, dehydration and other life threatening ailments.

Horses can intake 5 to 10 gallons of water per day. A horse deprived of feed can live up to 20 to 25 days on water alone. A horse deprived of water, however, may only live up to 3 to 6 days. After lacking water intake for two days horse may refuse to eat and exhibit signs of colic and other life-threatening ailments. Just like humans, in the heat of the summer, a horse will enjoy cool, fresh water. However, in cold weather, difficulties arise in providing water that is too cold or in a semi-frozen state. Humans enjoy a hot cup of tea, coffee or cocoa to warm them up. Horses enjoy something similar, as well. Horse owners have found that if they warm their horse’s drinking water the horse is more likely to consume more of it.

Horses who also have the advantage of daily grazing on fresh pasture grasses will be able to consume water through the intake of grasses, which contain large amounts of water.

Dehydration in horses is an extremely serious situation and can occur during strenuous exercise, stressful situations, etc. The lack of water can include the lack of electrolytes. You can provide a salt lick to your horse at all times and the horse will usually consume the right amount to meet their electrolyte requirements without any additional supplements.

Be sure you can recognize the signs of dehydration. Here are some things to look out for: sunken eye or dullness, lethargy, dry skin and mouth, drawn up flanks, depression or excessive thick saliva. Another sign of dehydration is a high level of protein in the blood, which can be determined by a blood sample.

You can also perform a skin pinch test to see if your horse is dehydrated. Pinch up a fold of the horse’s skin and then release it. Skin should immediately return back into its natural position. If the skin remains in a ridge from two to five seconds this could be a sign of dehydration. The longer the skin remains in a ridge can determine the severity of the lack of water in the horse’s system. Skin that remains in a ridge appearance for ten to fifteen seconds is the alert for immediate veterinary assistance, for the skin is demonstrating severe dehydration signs.

Sometimes when you travel to a different region for horse shows, clinics, etc. your horse can refuse the local water because it may taste differently than what they are used to at home. To help prevent this you may try flavoring your horse’s water with apple juice or gatorade for a few days before you leave.

A very useful rule of thumb is if at an event you are consuming and desiring water intake, then the chances are your horse is also having the same desires. Riding horses is great exercise for the rider and also an additional strain on the horse’s metabolism. Be safe and smart and keep your horse hydrated!

Also, check out my post here about when it is too hot to ride.

Be on the look out for Friday's post all about my summer equestrian style.

Happy riding!