Automatic Horse Waterer Suggestions

[zing]

If the pond freezes over and then melts the same day, I don't think you need anything. The horses will break through that little crust of ice on the pond with their noses.

 

[bucktaker]

I have had a 100 gal rubbermaid for 20 yrs of continous use. Remove the plug and install a drain plug heater connected to a wall sw. Winter I leave it full/fuller as its a hassle to drain the rubber hose to fill it ....summer I keep the level low and add water everyday. I am like zz6 and prefer a daily check. I use approx 85 gal per 7 days for two adult horses.

 

[EddieWalker]

The more I read, the more I think keeping it simple makes the most sense.

Eddie

 

[WM75Guy]

You are learning that early. The horse is the cheap part, it's all the stuff to take care of them that can get expensive quick if you don't watch out. Keeping the place clean, safe, and working properly can be time consuming, the KISS principle certainly applies. I use these to hang 5 gallon flat back buckets in the stalls.

Aluminum Wall Bracket Valley Vet Supply (Stable Equipment Supplies - Buckets Feeders)

 

[Fluid]

I'm like some of the other folks that like to keep an eye on how much water and the condition (clean fresh) of the water. I have brush in the tack room to clean the tank about every other day. I like to check the horses when the water is filling the tank and I interact with all six of them and a donkey. I like it and I think they do to because when they see me walking to the barn they come running over to see me and I get to see and hear them run. I have an electric heater to keep the water ice free and the galvanized watering trough is in a shaded area in the summer.

 

[tcreeley]

After college I worked in a training stable in Ohio- had about 30 horses in stalls. Each horse had a bucket. Daily we just went along and filled the buckets with a hose. They have flat backed buckets and corner buckets. Buckets are nice, but a stock tank or pond allows you to get away for a few days without worrying about the animals and their water. The horses heat and the mild winters kept freezing from being a problem. We drained the hos every day during the winter.