Winter Water for Horses

our electrical system its also a good idea to have a plan in place for watering during a power outage. This might be a generator or hauling water in small amounts and placing it in a wellinsulated container out of the wind.
Performing the pinch test is one way to assess body fluid level. Grasp a fold of skin along the horses neck between your thumb and forefinger raise it up away from the body and then let go. When hydration is good the skin will snap quickly back into place. A standing tent of a longer duration indicates dehydration. Keep in mind that older horses may naturally have less skin elasticity. Outward symptoms of dehydration that can be seen without actually touching the horse are sunken eyes and a tucked up appearance in the flank.
There are two common complications resulting from inadequate water consumption during cold weather. The first is decreased feed intake. Even if good quality feed is offered the horse will cut back on consumption if it is not drinking sufficient water. If less feed is consumed the horse might not consume enough energy to tolerate the cold weather and this can result in weight loss despite adequate nutrition being offered.
The second and potentially more harmful complication is impaction colic or constipation. Both the feed material during digestion and the fecal contents after digestion must maintain adequate moisture levels. If they become dry they do not move through the intestinal tract in a timely manner and can cause an intestinal blockage impaction.
If you have a horse that tends to not drink enough water in winter even warm water consider adding a wellsoaked feed to their diet like beet pulp or hay cubes. Both of these feeds provide high levels of fibre which will increase the horses ability to