June 29, 2022
Many horse owners haul their horses to competitions or to new areas for trail riding in the summer months. By far the most critical aspect of the hauling process is to keep horses adequately hydrated before, during, and following travel.
The water requirement for horses increases in the summer months due to water loss associated with sweating. Horses sweat to help dissipate heat associated with higher summer-time temperatures and heat associated with exercise. At maintenance, horses will drink a minimum of 5 - 15 gallons of water per day depending on size of the horse. Hauling horses can add to the heat load and increase water requirement, since temperatures inside horse trailers, depending on trailer type, ventilation, and insulation, can be 10 - 15 degrees warmer than temperatures outside the trailer. These higher temperatures can cause horses to sweat and may lead to dehydration and heat stress associated with overheating. Signs of dehydration include lack of focus/concentration, fatigue, loss of appetite (both eating and drinking) and elevated body temperature, heart rate and respiration. Simple tests to determine if your horse is dehydrated include upper gum capillary refill time and skin pinch test. Both tests are described further in the SPWF Barn Bulletin - Can You Identify Normal Horse Vital Signs?
Keeping horses properly hydrated during transport begins prior to the horse ever stepping on the trailer. Making sure the horses have free-access to high-quality forage and fresh clean water for 12 hours prior to trailering is essential. The consumption of forage (hay) stimulates water intake. Horses that have been given plenty of forage and access to water will be properly hydrated as they begin the journey. Providing oral electrolytes to horses will also stimulate water intake. Electrolytes should be provided approximately 12 hours prior to departure so horses have plenty of time to drink. Electrolytes should not be provided to horses less than 12 hours prior to transport.
Once on the trailer, horses should be given the opportunity to drink every four hours. Ideally, horses should be unloaded and given the opportunity to consume hay and drink water. Removing the horses from the trailer will help dissipate heat and allow them to relax, facilitating consumption of both hay and water. If possible, the water should be the same water they consume at home. Many trailers are equipped with water storage capacity minimizing the possibility of water refusal due to a foreign taste that often accompanies water from different areas. Often horse owners will attempt to mask the taste of a new water source by flavoring the water with a small amount of a sports drink. If the owner knows in advance that taking water from home is not possible during transport, any flavoring agent should be added to the horse's water for 7 - 10 days at home instead of randomly trying this on a trip.
When the horse arrives at the competition or the riding area, they should be checked for signs of dehydration with either the upper gum capillary refill test or the skin pinch test. If the horse is dehydrated, they should be treated by a veterinarian. If the horse is not dehydrated, they should be provided with fresh forage and water. The grain portion of the diet should be withheld until you have visual assurance the horse has both eaten and drank.
Other methods to reduce the chances of dehydration include:
- Arrange travel in the cooler portion of the day or night
- Increase water intake by soaking the hay in water prior to offering it to the horse both at rest stops and upon arrival
- Improve the quality of forage provided to your horses before and after transport. By feeding better quality alfalfa, orchard grass or other forage the horse will be enticed to consume forage and ultimately consume water.
To learn more about how to Feed a Performance Horse, read this blog. Standlee Premium Western Forage products including alfalfa, orchard grass and timothy will help stimulate forage appetite.
By Dr. Tania Cubitt & Dr. Stephen Duren
Standlee Nutritional Experts
FAQs
Carry water from home.
How do I get my horse to drink water while traveling? ›
Provide fresh water
Empty and replace stale water in travel tanks before leaving for a trip. Keep water sources out of the sunlight to prevent bacterial and algal growth. Keeping the water between 45 and 65 F can also encourage your horse to drink.
How do you transport water for horses? ›
If you need to transport water đź’¦, line a container (muck bucket, trash barrel, etc.) with a clean trash bag, fill with water and close the top with a twist tie or baling twine. You can then haul it in whatever wheeled transportation you have - truck, wheelbarrow, golf cart etc.
How long can horses travel without water? ›
“A horse can live for almost a month without food, but within a mere 48 hours without water a horse can begin to show signs of colic and can quickly develop an impaction, lethargy, and life-threatening sequelae. A horse can only survive about five days without water,” shares Peter Huntington, B.V.
Can a horse go overnight without water? ›
A horse can survive only 3 to 6 days without water, though this can vary based on factors like climate, activity level, and overall health. Dehydration can lead to serious health issues quickly, making it crucial to ensure constant access to clean, fresh water for their well-being.
Should horses have water at all times? ›
For this reason, it is imperative that horses have access to fresh, clean water at all times and behavioral changes be addressed as soon as they are recognized. In the worst cases, dehydration can impair normal gut function, cause impaction colic, “tying up”, and other health issues.
How often do horses need to drink water? ›
An idle, 1,100-pound horse in a cool environment will drink 6 to 10 gallons of water per day. That amount may increase to 15 gallons per day in a hot environment. Work horses require 10-18 gallons of water per day on average but could require much more in hot weather.
How do you water a horse while trailering? ›
If you just need a couple buckets - 1 for horse to drink, 1 for sponging water lets say - then I 2nd the plastic bag in a bucket idea. I use it all the time for trail rides with friends or schooling shows off the trailer. Just line your bucket like you would a trash can, fill with water, and twist the top shut.
How do you keep horse water fresh? ›
Effectively disinfect water in tanks by using unscented household bleach in recommended quantities. After adding bleach, wait at least one hour before letting your horses drink from it. This will allow the chlorine time to dissipate. If the water is less than 50 degrees F, increase the waiting period to two hours.
Can horses drink tap water? ›
Water containing less than 400 mg/L of nitrate is generally safe, while a level over 1500 mg/L may be toxic. Nitrate can be converted to nitrite in the horse's cecum. In horses, nitrite is 10 to 15 times more toxic, and concentrations exceeding 30 mg/L may be hazardous to a horse's health.
Most horses will become dangerously dehydrated and susceptible to death within just a few days but may last up to five days. However, as a rule, a horse should never go longer than 3-5 hours without access to water. Avoid dehydration by encouraging your horse to drink often and never letting the trough run dry!
Can a horse go 7 hours without water? ›
Equines need a constant supply of fresh, clean H2O to maintain their health and wellbeing. A general rule of thumb is that a horse should never go more than three to four hours without access to H2O.
What is the best water for horses? ›
If the pond or stream in your horse's pasture is free from chemicals and closely monitored for contamination, the water is more than likely potable. Nonetheless, purity is not guaranteed. To avoid potential problems with natural water sources, it is best to provide additional water in a bucket or trough.
What does if you can't bring a horse to water? ›
Everyone has heard the idiom, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink”. It basically means that you can do everything in your power to help someone, but you can't force them to accept your help no matter how much you are convinced that “it” will help them.
How far can a horse travel in a day? ›
An average horse in fair condition can typically travel between 25 and 35 miles (40-56 km) in a day with a rider. But don't expect them to maintain such distance for too many days in succession. The reality is that most modern horses aren't conditioned for long-distance riding.
What a horse has to do if it won't go for water? ›
Keep it really relaxed, and when he is confident try trotting but stay very relaxed and patient. Go to the same water regularly so that his confidence builds and he has fun splashing through making sure the water is very shallow so that he doesn't get frightened.
How do you hydrate a horse that won't drink? ›
Flavor the water.
There are many additives that can encourage a horse to drink, like adding a few tablespoons of a flavored sports drink or powder. Others suggest just adding apple juice, flavored beet juice, molasses or even dissolving some peppermint candies.
How do I make my horse thirsty? ›
Its simple; just mix one teaspoon of table salt with two tablespoons of applesauce and using a clean, large syringe, squirt it on the back of the horse's tongue. The salt will cause the horse to become thirsty and drink. Be sure to monitor the amount of water your horse drinks.
What is the fastest way to hydrate a horse? ›
Feed wet grain, electrolytes, and camelina oil to keep a horse hydrated! Horse owners should consider using wet feed or oil to help more stubborn horses drink water. Camelina is a great choice for such an endeavor as it can maintain urine production and keep every horse healthy!
Why will my horse not drink water? ›
Horses usually drink as much as they need, although in cold weather (and sometimes when stressed or traveling) they tend to drink less. Some problems that cause horses to drink less water are serious. Sometimes, exhausted, dehydrated, or otherwise very sick horses will not drink water despite their need for it.
