RULES OF WATERING
Water is essential as:
It is the largest component of the body, a foal being about 80% and an adult 60%.
It is an essential part in digestion, circulation, thermostatic control (keeping the horse’s temperature correct) and excretion.
Lime in water is needed for the formation of bone and tissue.
A horse will drink approximately 6-10 gallons a day.
RULES OF WATERING
A constant supply of clean fresh water should be available. If using buckets this should be changed every 4-5 hours, as ammonia and other pollutants from the air can be absorbed.
Offer water before feed (for example if they have been without food while exercising or travelling).
Do not allow a horse to have a large drink just before exercise. If you are competing or on a long ride, offer water as regularly as possible (never when the horse is overly hot from work, allow them to cool first) and only allow small amounts to start with, building up gradually.
If the horse has been deprived of water, offer small amounts to start with, building up gradually.
If the horse is very hot or overheated, then give water with the chill taken off. This is because water that is overly cold compared to the body temperature, can cause problems, even shock.
WATERING SYSTEMS
As with feeding, every system has advantages and disadvantages, you must consider them all, and use the best system available for you and your horse.
Buckets
These allow you to keep an eye on the amount of water your horse is drinking, but are labour intensive and wasteful. This is because they need to be cleaned out completely every 4-5 hours.
Automatic water system
You cannot see how much your horse has drunk and they can be difficult to clean out, which must be done on a regular basis (at least once a week). They must be checked at least every few hours to make sure no debris has fallen or been put in it. This system is very labour saving and not wasteful as a general rule. If your horse has never used one, make sure they are comfortable using it before removing any other source of water.
Final Thoughts
Common sense is the best tool you can have. Making sure your horse has a constant supply of clean fresh water is essential, as well as following the simple points from above.