Help with ideas for moving water uphill for the horses...

[MossflowerWoods]

Ok... My horses are about a week away from moving in. I plan to have a second well put in somewhere up in the pasture or preferably the new home site area, but until then, I need a simple way to haul water up the hill to the pasture from my home.

I'd love to find a US Army surplus water buffalo trailer, but other than that, anybody got any good ideas for hauling 50 gallos or so of water up to the horses?

Also, if I surround the water trough with sand bags or dirt (like a raised pond?) will I get the benefit of it not freezing as badly? Is there a solar powered water heater to keep their water from completely freezing?

Thanks in advance!
David

 

[smstonypoint]

I see you have a FEL. How about a 55 gallon-food grade barrel that you carry in your bucket?

Steve

 

[blueriver]

Around here we can find the 250 gallon totes in a metal gage and are forklift compatible for around $75 ... I have one and when I need water in remote area I use either the carry all or the pallet forks ... you can gravity feed or install a 12 volt pump. I also use it for water supply to the field when spraying.

 

[Richard]

We have one of those 250 gallon things mounted on the back of a trailer.

Couple years ago we had a small draught right as the blueberries were starting to form. Not knowing what would happen, I hooked it up behind the tractor, filled it about half way and went up there.

I formulated a little manifold where I could put some garden hoses with a drip line and let it gravity feed down the line. I'd fill again as needed.

(was something I viewed as a fun challange, not work)

Got to the blueberries which are on a slope, started the watering process....when KA-THUNK

hmm..watch out....

Without knowing the exact numbers, seems we had a 1 3/4" ball on the trailer and a 2" hitch on the tractor and it simply sprung off the ball and flopped to the side.

This popped the lid and the water came gushing out (the top)

oops

I knew there was a mismatch on the ball but I didn't think it was enough to let go.

Fortunately, nothing hurt. Reloaded and did it again with the trailer at a different angle so gravity wouldn't pull up like that.

Later on.... trenched a water line to them and now I just hook up to an outside spigot and don't worry about any draught.

 

[blueriver]

Thats about 2100 lbs of water !!

 

[brin]

Ok... My horses are about a week away from moving in. I plan to have a second well put in somewhere up in the pasture or preferably the new home site area, but until then, I need a simple way to haul water up the hill to the pasture from my home.

I'd love to find a US Army surplus water buffalo trailer, but other than that, anybody got any good ideas for hauling 50 gallos or so of water up to the horses?

Also, if I surround the water trough with sand bags or dirt (like a raised pond?) will I get the benefit of it not freezing as badly? Is there a solar powered water heater to keep their water from completely freezing?

Thanks in advance!
David

David.....Read the attached link...maybe you could rig this up and use the flowing water from your outside water faucet to make it work...if so it beats hauling it...HowStuffWorks "How does a hydraulic ram pump work?"

 

[radioman]

hmm, a gas trash water pump pumping water to a holding container horses drinkwater from? quicker and easier? plus you have a water pump for other future uses once you get a permanent setup?

 

[MadJack]

I second the ram-pump IF you can get a 4' to 5' drop above the pump. It will work 24 hours a day, every day, with no fuel or cost after installation. They rarely freeze since the water is always moving.(at least down your way)

Other than that, daily pumping or hauling......


The semi-buried stock tank will freeze. But I did just see some plans to build a 'solar generated stock-tank heater' somewhere recently.

 

[MadJack]

Solar heated and insulated stock tank

Here it is!:thumbsup:

 

[horsinaround]

Why not just dig a trench and put a frost free hydrant up where you want it near the pasture. How far is it?
Horses drink a lot of water every day...I have five in a pasture and they will drain a 150 gallon stock tank in one day.