Horses will lick snow to obtain water, but this cannot meet their daily hydration needs. Furthermore, cold icy water requires energy-intensive efforts to bring up to body temperature for consumption which leads to decreased fluid consumption and can reduce their drink intake.
Norwegian researchers conducted a study that tracked Icelandic horses on pasture and took blood samples regularly to compare hydration parameters. Unfortunately, their water source became frozen for nine days during December 2.
Water Requirements
As seasons change, it is essential that horses receive sufficient water. According to experts, horses should consume between 10-12 gallons a day. Water consumption becomes especially essential during the winter, when temperatures can plummet significantly and ice forms in their water source. Here are a few tips that can ensure your horse always has access to clean drinking water in this season.
People often think that horses receive enough moisture from their pasture grass, but in reality this is simply not true. While horses will consume snow as part of their diet, this does not provide adequate liquid water sources.
Studies have demonstrated that wild herbivores accustomed to eating snow may survive without access to liquid water for some days [6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16 17, 20]. This scenario should only ever occur under extreme circumstances and responsible horsemen should ensure their horses have easy access to fresh, free-flowing water sources at all times.
Ideal water temperatures for horses range between 45 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. To ensure optimal conditions, it is also vital that ice crystals are removed regularly from the water, and that it does not freeze solid. In areas prone to freezing temperatures, experts often advise using an agitator or heated trough which keeps the water moving and warm – encouraging increased drinking habits from your horse.
Some horses can be finicky about the water they drink, often due to taste preferences or negative experiences with certain sources (e.g., streams or ponds). Some horses also dislike chlorine-treated water and prefer another variety instead; when this occurs, using apple juice, beet juice flavorings, low sugar solutions like molasses or honey as maskers for it can sometimes help encourage reluctant horses to drink up.
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when horses do not drink enough water. Even with free access to clean, quality water sources, getting horses to drink as much as they require may prove challenging. Dehydration is an ongoing health risk that affects performance as well as general wellbeing of horses.
The amount of water a horse drinks is determined by weather, exercise, diet and any underlying health issues. On average, horses drink more water during hot and humid conditions due to exercising and sweating out fluid through sweat glands; those stalled all day may drink less as they’re not sweating as much and losing fluid through sweating.
If your horse doesn’t seem interested in drinking water, there are ways you can encourage them. Adding loose salt in their feed may stimulate their thirst response and increase water consumption; other people find adding a salt block works just as effectively – just make sure it remains loose – since horses often chew around its edges instead of effectively licking it! Oral electrolytes may also help, especially four hours before an event or exercise by drawing sodium out of blood vessels into intestinal lumens which then triggers thirst response.
Squash, zucchini and cucumbers can also make excellent treats to promote drinking in horses. Cucumbers are especially low in both sugar and calories – something your horse is sure to appreciate! However, be careful of offering any vegetables known for causing gas in horses such as tomatoes, potatoes, onions, brussel sprouts or cabbage; avocados contain persin which is toxic for horses and should therefore be avoided as treats.
Make an easy test for dehydration by pinching and releasing skin from around the neck or shoulder area; the skin should quickly return to its usual state after pinching; any longer or any tented area indicates mild dehydration in your horse. Similarly, examine their gums; dry, tacky gums indicate need for additional water supply.
Colic
Horses require six essential nutrients for optimal health: protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins as well as water. Each plays an integral part in their health and performance – with water being most crucial – within 48 hours without enough fluid intake a horse will begin suffering from colic, an excruciating, often life-threatening condition which affects their colon.
Horse stomachs have a capacity to store between two and four gallons of liquid at any one time. As non-ruminant herbivores (hind-gut fermentors), horses require water for secreting hydrochloric acid and pepsin to break down raw hay or other plant material that enters their digestive tract, without adequate amounts of liquid available, this cannot happen efficiently leading to malnutrition in horses.
Colder temperatures require horses to rely more heavily on hay for energy requirements and drink less water, prompting many owners to try supplementing their horse’s water source with snow. Unfortunately, horses cannot consume enough snow to meet their hydration requirements and may experience dehydration or hypothermia as a result. Furthermore, snow temperatures also have the ability to damage stomachs; cold water causes more saliva production that makes digestion harder, making eating much harder than usual.
Horse hindgut (caecum and colons) functions similarly to that of the rumen in cows in that it houses a dense mass of bacteria that digest fiber from their diet before producing short chain fatty acids which the horse absorbs through their intestinal walls as energy sources.
Studies demonstrate that horses fed grass silage and trained to consume snow as their only source of liquid water can survive for several days with their bodies adapting to this new environment, with pathogenic bacteria not taking control and their welfare unimpeded by snow’s insufficient liquid content. As such, their welfare and physiology remain intact and uncomplicated by snow consumption.
Shelter
Horses require shelter from cold, wind and snow in order to maintain their body heat and be comfortable. This may take the form of anything from a simple run-in shed or stable and paddocks; depending on the species involved this may require significant amounts of energy for heating needs; providing your horse with ample shelter can help them maintain body temperature more easily and avoid health issues like colic.
If you’re uncertain whether your horse needs shelter, take time to assess their situation. Consider factors like their environment, weather, farm setup and current feeding regimen before making a decision. While stables are ideal, run-in sheds may offer just enough protection and keep the horses from becoming cold while eating.
Horses still need water even during the winter. Without access to fresh, clean water they may quickly become dehydrated, leading them to suffer various illnesses like colic. If you believe your horse may not be drinking enough water check their skin turgor (the ability of their skin to snap back after being pinched) and urine samples to determine whether they are adequately hydrated.
Some horses can live off snow as their primary water source, though this only applies to horses accustomed to living in snowy environments. A study showed that Icelandic horses used to living in these conditions could rely on snow alone for several days without additional sources; other horses might not be as adapt at surviving on it alone and require other sources as water sources as well as snow itself for survival. Furthermore, eating snow doesn’t provide them with all of their needed hydration and may waste calories that would be better used keeping warm!
Horses need access to water at temperatures 40 degrees or above, along with forages high in fiber such as grass or hay that will maintain their body weight while providing essential heat production through digestion.