Winter Watering Options for Your Horse Farm

implementation and that it does not require training.
Automatic Heated Waterers This is the more permanent automatic waterer. The electricity provided to this unit is typically run underground and comes up from underneath the unit. Typical characteristics of this style of waterer include a bowl with standing water controlled by a float valve like in the back of a toilet. When the water drops below a certain level the valve opens and the water is replenished.
The water standing in the bowl is heated to prevent it from freezing. The nice thing about this solution is that you can always see if there is water in the bowl by visually inspecting the water source. However due to some of the risks outlined above its not a bad idea to physically inspect the water source to ensure the water is not too hot or possibly carrying an electric current.
While convenience of use is the major upside with this option what it gains in convenience it loses with cost and maintenance. Because there is standing water you will usually need to scrub algae andor growth from these units regularly. In addition in low use scenarios the water will become stagnant or spoiled with dirt manure or debris.
When deciding on a waterer it is important to note the monthly heating costs of automatic and submersible heated wa
Frostfree automatic waterers are the bestsuited and least known style of waterer for head counts of one to 50 animals. Each individual unit can handle 20 to 25 animals.
In addition to the health benefits to the horses the additional benefits to the caretaker during the winter months include
No breaking ice in troughs or buckets
No refilling buckets or troughs in cold weather
No unnecessary energy costs associated with heating water all winter
No special installation requirements for cold climates
With frostfree automatic waterers the animal walks up to an empty bowl presses the paddle and water come up from the valve located below the frost line. For climates with a fourfoot frost line you could install an eightfoot post with six feet buried in the earth and two feet above grade. This way when the animal activates the waterer the water comes up from five feet below grade. This ensures the unit remains frostfree through the coldest of temperatures without the need for electricity.
Watering animals in the winter is drastically different than in the warm summer months. There are some real tradeoffs to
consider between cost convenience and quality.
When planning for medium to longterm use scenarios most will find the frostfree automatic waterer superior because it delivers higher quality water without any electricity costs.
For farms with more than 50 animals either traditional nonelectric waterers or multiple frostfree automatic waterers may be the best option.
For shortterm installation a couple days or weeks the convenience of heated buckets or troughs will likely prove to make the most sense.