The Importance Of Clean Drinking Water For Horses

     Proper management of horses includes providing drinking water that is pure. There are many reliable methods to ensure this is accomplished, depending on what method you choose to provide drinking water.
When utilizing buckets, troughs, or any type of automatic waterer that has standing water inside of it constantly, it is appropriate to keep an eye on it. In warmer months and climates, you may need to scrub algae from the water source on a regular basis. This is very important, as water that becomes infested with algae can develop an unpleasant taste for horses and they may reduce their water consumption.
With stagnant water, the potential for rodent infestation is also possible. Rodents, whether mice, rats, or even at times birds can find their way into and drown in drinking water thereby poisoning the water of horses needing to drink. The bacterium that come along with this situation, can cause salmonella poisoning and other potentially fatal diseases. A logical way to prevent this is to avoid standing water when possible.
Temperature also has a large factor in whether or not a horse will drink enough water. In hot climates or summer months, a horse is more apt to lose body weight because they do not drink enough water. This may develop problems with their digestion, temperament, and overall health. Warmer weather means that there are more chances of stagnant, high temperature water that is apt to produce algae and bacteria.
In the winter months, horses will refuse to drink water if it is too cold or frozen over. This can lead to severe health concerns such as digestive problems and colic for the animals. Colic can make horses agitated and at times shorten their temperament towards people.
When a horse refuses to drink water, it will become malnourished. It will eat less because it cannot digest the food easily. Malnourishment cannot only be expensive to counter, it is can have deadly results.
Demonstration of the importance of clean drinking water is best depicted when a livestock owner has an unclean water supply. On possible danger is the West Nile virus - a virus carried by mosquitoes. It is a very real threat that all horse and livestock owners must be aware of. It affects humans and livestock alike. When water is standing or impure, mosquitoes (the carriers of the virus) can lay their eggs by the thousands. Unfortunately, this virus has been found in every state in the US where many horse breeders live, work, and raise their equine stock. There is still no cure for the West Nile virus, and those animals that do survive the seizures, fevers, and other symptoms could be scarred for life.
With a frost-free system, the horse handler can ensure that there is no standing water to become ridden with algae or other contaminents. This is because there is no standing water. These types of systems only deliver water when a paddle is pushed. This eliminates the opportunity for algae to form in the drinking water.
Having clean drinking water is critical in keeping horses healthy. The temperature, and quality of water has a direct and undeniable link to avoidance of illnesses, and other very areal health related issues that are all easily avoidable with the proper planning and equipment.