How can I ensure that my horse is getting enough water?

Question

there is fountains in the stalls and i fill them up for him but he doesn't drink it, and i try giving him buckets when I'm brushing him and he still doesn't take it? Is there something I can give him to hydrate?

Answer 1

i know horses like this and thier owners usually put some salt in their grain to make them thirsty. the h**e i know gets 2 teespoons each morning but u can ask ur vet exactly how much.

Answer 2

put powdered gatorade in his water!!! it works wonders

Answer 3

If you are sure he is not drinking, have you checked him for signs of dehydration?  If you grasp a fold of skin by the shoulder, hold it for 30 seconds, then release it, does it immediately flatten, or does it slowly return?  Does the color return rapidly if you put fingernail pressure on his gums?  What do the stools look like if you break them apart?  Is the urine concentrated with an ammonia odor?

Refusal to drink can be associated with a problem in the water, but it may also be a sign of a medical issue with the horse.  I'd be sure whether he is actually showing signs of dehydration.  Is it possible he has other sources for water that you can't monitor?  If he is showing dehydration, he may need a medical workup to find out what is going on.

Answer 4

You can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink. haha

If your horse doesnt like to drink....add water to their grain so its a nice mash...you can also dunk his hay in water.....it'll be wet and all the dust will be off of it.....2 benefits!!!

Answer 5

You can try pouring some gatorade or coke into a bucket of water.  I knew a horse that wouldn't drink when he was away from home at shows and his owner always bought bottled water for him or made sure to have enough in 5 gallon cans to use for a 2-3 day show.  He actully dehydrated really bad one year, and she had to shell out a lot of money at the show for intravenous fluids and then he was not able to show the rest of the time he was there (2 weeks).   You can slo try putting and electrolyte powder in the water.  It will sometimes give the horse the added "tasty treat" it can't resist.

Answer 6

I add water to my horse's grains. It helps with many things, drinking, mixing supplements, and making it soupy so older horses cannot choke. It can also help digestive systems. Adding a little bit of salt to their diet may be OK but it might not pay off in the long run. I would ask a vet about that one.

Answer 7

Add salt to his feed...You could cut some apples and put them in his water and he will have to drink to get them.