Warm Temperatures and Water Consumption

The transition in temperature and humidity from cool season to warm season, such as winter to spring, could require an adjustment in watering horses.
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The transition in temperature and humidity from cool season to warm season, such as winter to spring, could require an adjustment in watering horses. Reduced water consumption can impair performance and increase the risk of impaction colic. Also, horses that are not conditioned properly could sweat more profusely than a well-conditioned horse, and thus dehydrate faster. This is particularly important early in the season when temperatures change suddenly and horses ight not yet be in peak condition.

The first key element is to make certain that horses have ready access to clean, palatable, cool water at all times or at very frequent intervals. Horses will normally consume about one gallon of water per 100 pounds of body weight, so an 1,100 lb horse will require a minimum of 11 gallons of water per day. This quantity can increase substantially during periods of exercise, high heat/humidity, or for lactating mares.

Some tips to keep in mind to keep water consumption up:

  • Horses generally do not like to consume warm water in warm temperatures. Automatic waterers or large tanks, located in the shade and cleaned regularly, might be good options. If water is supplied in buckets, they need to be cleaned regularly and refilled regularly.

  • If you are traveling to a show or other competition, it is essential to monitor water consumption, particularly if temperature conditions change.

  • It is routine in some barns to flavor the water with something like wintergreen or peppermint at home so that you can flavor the water in new facilities to match the home water. But be careful not use soft drinks or any material containing caffeine as these can trigger positive drug tests.

  • Taking horses to facilities with chlorinated water can sometimes reduce water consumption without proper precautions.

The second key element is to make certain that salt is offered free choice

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Written by:

Roy A. Johnson, MS, is an equine technology manager for Cargill Animal Nutrition. In his role, he is responsibile for the development of horse feeds for U.S. business, including feeds for Nutrena, ACCO, Agway, and private label brands. A former professional horse trainer, farm manager, and horse judging coach, Johnson was an assistant professor in the Agricultural Production Division at the University of Minnesota-Wasecae before joining Cargill. Johnson has also participated in a successful Thoroughbred racing partnership._x000D_

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