Horse Watering: Keep It Clean!

Your horse might not be too fussy about a few leaves or a bug or two, but truly fouled water can make your horse sick.

Here are few suggestions to keep your horse's water clean and fresh. Good horse watering techniques can be really simple.

Raise the water level: Use hanging water buckets. Lifting the bucket off the floor keeps waste, bedding and food out of the water. It also eliminates tip-overs.

Scrub the tanks: Run your hand along the side of the tank. Slimy? It's time to scrub. Use a bristle brush and vinegar. Rinse well and fill 'er up.

Grow some good bacteria: Consider a drop-in stock tank cleaner that grows and dispenses a blend of beneficial bacteria and enzymes to break down organic waste, sludge, and accompanying odors.

Bebug: If insect contamination is a problem consider organic insect control and traps to help control them. In water troughs, consider an insect control additive, such as the Mosquito Torpedo, and clean with a scraper.

Test the waters: Many local municipalities and Environmental Protection Agency offices test water samples. It is especially important to test your water after floods, heavy storms, and after any damage to wells or plumbing systems is incurred.

Move the manure: Do not locate manure piles near water sources. Keep them at least 500' (1,000' is better) from any water source including wells, ponds and streams.

Toxic alert: Limit chemical use. If you do use pesticides, herbicides and/or fertilizers, follow the directions carefully.

Fence off ponds, lakes and streams: Algae blooms, chemical runoff and wildlife waste can contaminate water and sicken horses. If you must use a natural water source, use an aeration system to circulate the water and test it frequently.

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