Sometimes horses need a little encouragement to drink enough water. If you’re wondering about a Water buffet for horses – what to add to your horse’s water, this article should give you plenty of ideas.
Water buffets for horses are becoming increasingly popular. Whilst fresh, clean, water is always available, allowing the horse a free choice to different waters can not only improve their health, but also be mentally stimulating if offered within track systems, or at changing locations within a field.
The ability to offer various minerals and dietary necessities, without also having to feed hard food, is a boon for those with good-doers. Knowing what to offer your horse though can be daunting. Read on to find out the most popular additions.
How Much Water Should I Give
The amount of water your horse needs each day will be determined by the weather conditions, amount of exercise, and the size of your horse. Grass provides a supply of water, and if your horse is given soaked hay, this too will contribute to the amount of water they take in during the day.
The ‘average’ horse weighing 500kg (1100lb) will likely take in between 22litre and 45litres. This is quite a wide range so it’s worth getting to know what is ‘normal’ for your horse. A change in water consumption could be the first sign that something is wrong, so it’s worth keeping a mental note of how much they consume.
If your horse has an automatic waterer it can be difficult to know how much they are drinking, so always keep an eye out for any signs that they may be getting dehydrated, and always make sure that clean, fresh water is available.
What Are The Signs Of Dehydration
There are a few common signs of dehydration that every owner should know:
- Lethargy: If your normally wide awake and aware horse suddenly turns lethargic it may be a sign of dehydration.
- Gums: Your horse’s gums should be a lovely pink colour. If they are deep red, the horse is likely to be severely dehydrated and needs immediate intervention. If your horse’s gums are healthy then they should return to normal, if pressed, within 2 seconds. Any longer and you should try to encourage your horse to take on fluids.
- Eyes: Dull and dry eyes could be caused by lack of water.
- Skin: If you pull the skin on your horse’s shoulder upwards, and then let go, it should be back to normal in a second. This is called the ‘tent test’ or ‘tenting’. The longer the skin takes to return to it’s original state the more dehydrated the horse may be. 4 seconds or longer indicates a severe problem.
- Urine: A horse’s urine should be a light gold in colour. Dark urine, or signs that your horse is struggling to pass water are signs that you need to check your horse is properly hydrated.
- Sweating/Not sweating: Horses, like us, sweat in hot weather, and during and after exercise. If your horse is dehydrated for too long, a condition called anhidrosis can be caused. Horses with this condition are unable to sweat, and it may be impossible to permanently cure your horse.
- High heart rate: Dehydrated horses often present with a high heart rate.
- Fever: Fever can occur without a horse being dehydrated, however, a dehydrated horse can develop a fever.
If your horse shows these signs, provide water, shade, and hose your horse down if it is sweating or too hot. It may be necessary to contact a vet if you thing that your horse is becoming seriously dehydrated and you’re having difficulty encouraging him to drink.
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10 Things To Add To Your Horse’s Water
If you’re wondering what can I add to my horses water, then look no further than the list below:
- Turmeric – Turmeric can be added to feed and to water. Many horse owners use it for its anti-inflammatory benefits; for joint pain and arthritis. Turmeric is also given to combat skin irritations, gut health, liver problems and even sarcoids. How well it works is individual to the horse, but there is no doubting that turmeric has many health benefits.
- Clay – Green clay can be added to feed, water, or used in a poultice to heal wounds. When adding clay to your water 200gm of clay in a 15lt bucket is recommended. Remember to only use plastic with clay, never metal. Also, if you are giving your horse clay, any left over clay/water mix should be disposed of and a new mix made every two days. Don’t offer clay water for more than 3 weeks at a time and always have a clean fresh, water (non-clay) source available. Clay is known as containing trace minerals and acting as a detoxifying treatment for your horse. If they have an injury, clay may help by helping them to heal from the inside out.
- Tea – Making a solution of steeped herbal tea can be very refreshing for your horse. Read Herbs For Horses to find out the best herb to use for your horse.
- Mint – Fresh or dried mint can be given to your horse in water. Mint is used to aid digestion and encourage your horse to drink. This can be especially useful if you’re away from home, as some horses refuse water outside their own familiar territory.
- Cleavers – Great for the lymphatic system and urinary tract, cleavers can either be purchased dried, or simply picked fresh and popped in water to infuse. Horses tend to love the taste so you shouldn’t have much wastage with this water.
- Salt – This natural anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial ingredient is often added to water for horses. There is much discussion over whether salt water is suitable for horses. Some believe that salt water isn’t great for horses, whilst others report many benefits and point to the fact that licks don’t allow a horse to gain a suitable amount of salt and can be damaging to the tongue over time. However, from personal experience, the salt water went down very well with no ill-effects. Salt is often added to feed to encourage a horse to drink more water.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Brilliant for digestion, and contains vitamin B1. Apple Cider Vinegar can also help to deter flies and has many other uses, so it’s a handy thing to have around for making fly spray, to a final rinse after washing your horses tail.
- Nettles – These can be added either fresh or dried and left to infuse into the water. Nettles contain many vitamins and minerals that benefit your horse’s health, with the added bonus of being very palatable. They have been said to aid the digestive system, the urinary system, and help with skin conditions and joint pain. So if you see nettles growing around your field, pick them (carefully) and let them wilt before adding to your horses water.
- Bicarb of Soda – Bicarb of soda may help horses who need their water to be slightly more alkaline (check the pH of your water first if you have concerns). Using BoS has been reported as helping skin complaints and even improve performance as it can buffer stomach acid.
- Magnesium Oxide – Frequently used as a calmer for stressy horses, magnesium has multiple benefits for your horse. It may also help those horses with cresty necks. Magnesium is easily absorbed and helps calcium mobilisation which means it promotes healthy bones. Horses that are in heavy work will often need supplementary magnesium as it is easily lost through sweating.
Depending upon the number of horses you have, offering two or three of these at a time, in addition to clean, fresh water, will give your horses the best of all worlds, and will stop wastage.
How Often Should I Change The Water
If you’re offering a water buffet to your horse, then changing the water daily, or every other day, is to be recommended. Water in a bucket can go stale, and fresh herbs added to the water can start to degrade, which will make the water not only unpleasant, but potentially unhealthy for your horse.
What Should I Put In Horse’s Water To Make Them Drink
The old saying ‘You can lead a horse to water…….’ holds true, but if you are aware that your horse needs to drink more then read on to discover ways to encourage drinking.
- Apple juice – the sweetness of the apple juice will encourage your horse to drink more water
- Salt – Adding salt to water or feed will encourage further water intake
- ACV – If your horse does not like to drink when away from home, adding ACV to your water at home can help as when out you can add it to ‘strange’ water to make it more appealing
- Temperature – Horses don’t like water that is too cold and may refuse to drink as much as they should. Especially during winter it’s important to be aware of how much your horse is drinking.
Is There An Alternative To A Water Buffet
There is nothing to say that you must provide a water buffet for your horse, but giving your horse the freedom to choose is an important part of their welfare. If they don’t have a hedgerow, or herb garden to forage in, a water buffet gives a good choice with minimal effort on behalf of the owner.
If getting fresh water into the field is difficult, then a mineral buffet instead may be the best option. The horse is still free to make choices, and will benefit from the ability to regulate mineral intake themselves.
Conclusion
Water buffets for horses is quite a new idea, but one that seems to be gaining in popularity. Most horses have an inbuilt knowledge of what their system needs to stay healthy. Offering a range of waters means that you can rest assured that you are giving them the very best of care, and the freedom of choice that is so important for your horse’s mental wellbeing.
