Drinking more water than normal?

[Gingernags]

Asti has a large square tub trug as a water bucket - as a guide it takes 3 full "ordinary" buckets of water. Usually she drinks the equivalent of between 1 and 2 buckets overnight but for the last couple of weeks she's been nearly emptying it.

She's not been looking dehydrated at any point or out of sorts at all. She's also eating more mind, she never usually clears her net but this year, she is managing to scoff the entire lot and look starving when my sister gets to the yard at 7 - the other two bigger horses have loads left!

No change in routine, same haylage supplier, no change in work - all the same.

Should I worry or is it a reasonable amount to drink? She's 15hh so its not like she's some huge beastie??!!

 

[Dougie]

what age is she?
is she getting a thick, dull and curly coat?
more lethargic than usual?

 

[Gingernags]

Clipped, fit, in work, still as nutty as normal - she's 14.

Pretty sure its not cushings!

 

[annie02]

If she is eating more it isnt strange to see her drink more, helps with digestion. Some horses dunk their hay to help soften it for chewing. I think Dougie was getting at the possibility of cushins.

Really she is only drinking about 1/2-1 bucket more.

Weather change or fitness level could be increasing her appetite too. Maybe keep a record for a week or so of how much hay and water she is consuming.

 

[Dougie]

sorry cushings is my automatic response for things that drink more lol

 

[Gingernags]

Ours usually follow a pattern. They come in on a night, stuff their fat faces as full as possible for a week or two - as its the - "yum, haylage haven't eaten this in ages" type effect... then settle to a much more reasonable amount with a bit left every morning...

Someone seems to have switched this off with Asti this year and she's always hungry!!!! I swear I'd think the b*gger had a tapeworm but she's looking very well.

Its probably nothing, maybe she'll drop down a bit like the other two soon, they were clearing their nets but have slowed down considerably a few weeks ago. Maybe she's just insecure that the "little 'un" will pinch her food!

 

[aliacc]

I spent weeks last winter worry that our mare was drinking more than usual...a big trug plus a bucket drained nightly ....but their field didn't have much grass in. Even mentioned it to the vet. Once the new grass started coming through her water drinking returned to normal levels.

Ali

 

[Gingernags]

Ah now thanks for that, that makes a bit of sense if I think about it. When we first moved them into the winter field, it was full of grass and you are right that way - she wasn't drinking much at all.

Now there is enough to nibble on but not a lot and its a bit dry and yellowy stuff... I was wondering if maybe she wasn't liking something in the water trough but I think what you are saying does make sense.

They stayed in yesterday as it was a bit crappy - really high winds and icy rain - and she drank less last night after saying in and stuffing her face all day. Will see what happens tonight, they weren't out long today after we'd ridden so she wasn't out and hungry for that long...

Feeling a bit better about it though, ta!