playing with water

Question
hello ma'am, we have a racehorse called KANCHI, a 5 year old gray gelding, he is very quiet, doesnt bite, doesnt drag the groom while leading. today, in the morning, after work, we gave him a bath along with rinsing his mouth (as it was full of foamy saliva) and led him into the stall. after unbridling, we provided him fresh water so that he relaxes. he was playing with water like this in this video link i have attached. may i know why? was he in a playful mood, irritated or rinsing his muzzle?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZTMet_pDpY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IADnKTJSlrI

Answer
Hi Rohit,

Thank you for your question.  I can't say for sure why your horse is playing in his water.  Horses will sometimes move the water around if there is dirt floating on top in order to be able to get a clean sip.  Sometimes they don't like the flavor of the water and what to drink but end up just splashing around because of the taste.  Sometimes they simply play.  I would recommend that you ensure the buckets have been cleaned to remove any algae or bacteria that may have accumulated courtesy of your humid climate, and ensure the water is clean and fresh.  Horses have a tendency to drink the most (and be the most thirsty) following exercise and after eating grain.  So if daily water consumption is an issue, you will want to ensure that your water is at its best quality at those times.  

Thanks, Corlena