Providing Water to Your Horse This Summer

With the heat of summer upon us, finding ways to provide fresh, clean water to your horse on a consistent basis is essential. This is particularly important in Arizona where temperatures can reach deadly highs during the summer months. Fortunately, there are several ways for you provide fresh water for your horse. Here is a look at a couple of your options.

Provide Fresh Buckets

Perhaps the most basic way to provide fresh water to your horse is to fill buckets of water regularly. Buckets are simple to use and easy to clean. They can, however, become quite heavy to carry on a regular basis and they can be easily spilled if not safely secured. They also have a tendency to heat up quickly, which means you may need to change the buckets a few times per day in order to ensure the water is clean and fresh.

Automatic Waterers

Automatic waterers are a more convenient method for providing water to your horses. Used both indoors or in the pasture, automatic waterers should be cleaned and refilled regularly in order to prevent bacterial formation. Leaves and other debris should be removed daily, while the containers themselves should be scrubbed every week to prevent algae build up. You may also need to teach your horse how to use the automatic waterer properly. 

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Keeping Your Horse’s Water Fresh and Clean

Keeping your horse’s water fresh and clean can be a challenge, especially during the dry and hot summer months in Arizona. Clearly, ensuring your horse’s water is both fresh and clean is an essential component to keeping your horse hydrated and healthy. While troughs and automatic waterers can help to keep the amount of water in ample supply, there are a few steps you should take to ensure it remains clean for your horse to consume and enjoy. 

If you have a trough, you may need to clean it at least once per week during the summer in order to keep it clean. This process includes removing all insects, chaff, leaves and other debris that may have accumulated in the water. You may also need to periodically scrub your containers with a bristle brush and vinegar in order to remove all stuck-on grime and slime. This is especially important of algae has started to grow on the container in which the water is kept. After cleaning with vinegar, be sure to rinse the container thoroughly before refilling it with water. 

Keep in mind that algal growth is particularly problematic in the summer months. In addition, standing water serves as the ideal place for mosquito larvae to be grow. Keep your horse healthy while also keeping your mosquito levels down by frequently changing and cleaning your water to keep it fresh.

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