WATER NEEDS OF HORSES

Dr. Cynthia McCall
Extension Horse Specialist
Alabama Cooperative Extension System

     Adequate water intake is essential to the health of horses. Decreased food consumption, dehydration and impaction colic may occur without adequate water intake. At an ambient temperature of 55 o F, an average-sized, inactive horse that is eating a normal diet will drink 10 to 12 gallons of water daily. During hot summer days, an idle horse’s water intake may increase to 30 gallons per day. Lactating mares and exercised horses may require over twice the amount of water needed by idle horses of a similar size.

     Horses should have free access to clean, cool water except when they are hot after exercise or extremely thirsty. Allowing horses to drink large amounts of water in a short time can cause colic and founder. A hot or thirsty horse should be “watered out” by allowing it four or five swallows of water, then walking it for 10 minutes and allowing it to drink a few more swallows. Walking and watering should be alternated until the horse is no longer thirsty.

     The horse’s water supply should be checked daily to ensure that adequate amounts of water are available and that the water is clean and safe to drink. Ponds that have a sudden or heavy growth of algae or that develop an off-odor or color should be tested for safety before letting horses drink from them.