Site Map : Contact Us
 
 
 
     Feeding horses during the winter is a task with the main goal of ensuring the animals remain healthy. In the winter, as in any other season, the horse needs a combination of nutrients to remain healthy. Energy derived from feeds and the resulting body heat is very important for the horse’s health and survival. If a horse is not consuming enough water, it will eat less feed than it would otherwise.
     There are a number or reasons a horse will not consume an adequate amount of water during winter months. Some of the more common reasons for this are:
  • Water provided is too cold for animal to drink comfortably.
  • Trough or bucket is completely frozen over.
  • Water is too hot due to a malfunctioning or improperly adjusted water heating device.
     If a horse considers water to cold it will not drink enough. As we’ve all heard before, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”. This is never truer than in winter months. It’s well documented that water should be at least 40° Fahrenheit.  
 
     Studies show that increasing water temperature from just above freezing (read here – icy or frozen buckets or troughs) to 40°- 65° Fahrenheit, will increase the amount of water consumed by 40%.

     If for some reason, one chooses not to or is unable to adhere to the guidelines above; there are essentially two problems that can arise from horses not consuming enough water during winter months:

  • Decreased feed intake. This will have a direct impact on the animal’s ability to maintain body weight as well as decrease their ability to consume enough energy to tolerate the cold weather.
  • Impaction colic. This risk is more widely discussed, and possibly more harmful. If a horse doesn’t consume enough water either because it’s frozen or it’s to cold for them to drink comfortably, the risk of impaction colic rises sharply.   On top of that, even if the horse does drink a proper amount of water; water that is too cold has a negative impact on the digestive track and causes disturbances during digestion and absorption.

     These risks can be mitigated by installing The Drinking Post™, which provides water at an ambient 50° Fahrenheit, ensuring there will be adequate water consumption through out the cold winter months. The waterer maintains this temperature year round with out the need of electricity to warm it because the water source is below frost line. Ensuring the temperature of available water is to horses liking throughout the winter will assist in promoting good health.
     In addition to the health benefits to the horses, there are some additional benefits to the caretaker in the winter months. 
  • No breaking ice off troughs.
  • No refilling buckets or troughs in cold weather.
  • No increased energy costs associated with heating water all winter.
While some other water choices can offer similar benefits,
The Drinking Post is truly unique in that it requires:
  • No electricity
  • No float
  • No thermos system
  • No de-icer
  • No heat cable

The Drinking Post Horse Waterer can stand indefinitely and still function perfectly!