42. How Much Water Should Your Horse Drink?

Mad Barn Academy

How much water does your horse need to drink every day to stay healthy and how much do water requirements increase in hot conditions or when working?

Ensuring adequate water intake is important for the optimal health and well-being of all horses. Some horses are more susceptible to becoming dehydrated and have a higher need for water.

A typical, idle 500 kg horse requires at least 25 litres (6.6 US gallons) of water per day.

In hot weather, horses may require 55 litres (15 US gallons) per day and they may need anywhere from 40 – 70 litres (10 – 18 gallons) per day when exercising.

Even if you give your horse constant access to fresh, clean water, horses will not always drink enough water to avoid dehydration.

In particular, water intake should be intentionally encouraged in exercising horses, lactating mares, and horses with gastrointestinal issues, and during both hot and cold weather.

This podcast discusses why adequate water intake is important, the factors that can affect water intake, how to assess dehydration, and how to encourage water consumption in horses.

Read more: https://madbarn.com/how-much-water-should-horses-drink/

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