Getting used to automatic waterer

[sonemmy]

I brought a 3year old sporthorse gelding home a month ago. I’m having a hard time teaching him how to drink from the automatic waterer in his stall. I have shown him many times that when pressing the button the water will come. All the horses have learned very fast how to use it and he is the first one to have this problem. He will put his nose into the bowl without touching the button and drink all the water so the bowl is dry as desert in the morning. He was scared of the noise the waterer made when he touched the button for a second accidentally, I tried putting some carrots to make him touch the button more and get used to it. Didn’t help, just ate the carrots in the water by the morning came. Tuned the pressure down, so enough water comes into the bowl and doesn’t make so much noice, now he is fine with the noise and doesn’t care when I press the button or he touches himself it accidentally. The biggest problem is that he won’t hold down the button with his nose and probably doesn’t understand that when holding the button down, the water comes. I have shown him that many times during the day, splashing with the water, making noise etc and still nothing I haven’t put any other water sources in his stall, just to make him try the waterer if he’s really thirsty, only drinks the way his nose won’t touch the button and the bowl is dry in the morning and when he goes outside he drinks a bucket of water straight away, which confirms that he hasn’t been using it. Any recommendations? Should I be more patient?

 

[PurBee]

I’ve never heard of button pressing waterers - just auto-fill ones.
Personally, because of this time of year too, i’d put a 40ltr trug in his stable while he figures out how to use the waterer. Theyre usually eating more dried forage of hay this time of year, and i wouldnt want water drinking to be an issue while theyre in a long time during winter, in a stable with loads of hay to eat.

I’d carry on as you are with exposure to the device, playing carrot games to help him understand how to use it, but as he’s taking a slower time than your others to use it, i’d be giving buckets/trugs of water in the stable while he’s learning. Once youre sure he knows it and uses it confidently, then the trug of water wont be needed.
I understand youre not adding extra water to hopefully force his thirst to use the device - but its a bit of a gamble, as his hay guts need water to help good gut movement, and as he’s drinking a bucketful straight away suggests he’s been very thirsty.
Sounds like patience and water button pressing training games are going to be needed.

 

[PurBee]

Hopefully someone will be along who’s familiar with these waterers and knows good training tips to get them used to it!

I did wonder, if you used a lickit type lick - can you smear a blob of it on the button so he uses his tongue to lick it off and helps him understand that gets the water flowing? Or use a blob of it directly below the button, so his nose coincidentally touches the button while he licks the lickit below?

 

[sonemmy]

I’ve never heard of button pressing waterers - just auto-fill ones.
Personally, because of this time of year too, i’d put a 40ltr trug in his stable while he figures out how to use the waterer. Theyre usually eating more dried forage of hay this time of year, and i wouldnt want water drinking to be an issue while theyre in a long time during winter, in a stable with loads of hay to eat.

I’d carry on as you are with exposure to the device, playing carrot games to help him understand how to use it, but as he’s taking a slower time than your others to use it, i’d be giving buckets/trugs of water in the stable while he’s learning. Once youre sure he knows it and uses it confidently, then the trug of water wont be needed.
I understand youre not adding extra water to hopefully force his thirst to use the device - but its a bit of a gamble, as his hay guts need water to help good gut movement, and as he’s drinking a bucketful straight away suggests he’s been very thirsty.
Sounds like patience and water button pressing training games are going to be needed.

We have these kinds of waterers here https://www.amazon.ca/Automatic-Drinker-Waterer-Piglets-Livestocktool/dp/B073RXW5PS

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[sonemmy]

Hopefully someone will be along who’s familiar with these waterers and knows good training tips to get them used to it!

I did wonder, if you used a lickit type lick - can you smear a blob of it on the button so he uses his tongue to lick it off and helps him understand that gets the water flowing? Or use a blob of it directly below the button, so his nose coincidentally touches the button while he licks the lickit below?

We have these kinds of waterers https://www.amazon.ca/Automatic-Drinker-Waterer-Piglets-Livestocktool/dp/B073RXW5PS I have put carrots under the button

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

At this time of the year, I'd ensure he has a good supply in a trug, I'd not want impaction colic arising because 'he hasnt learned'.
Work on the auto filler later on in the year

 

[Arzada]

So they hold 1 litre and are not designed or marketed for horses. Just put 2 buckets in his stable and let him have decent drink when he needs.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

We have these kinds of waterers https://www.amazon.ca/Automatic-Drinker-Waterer-Piglets-Livestocktool/dp/B073RXW5PS I have put carrots under the button

That isnt designed for horses.

 

[ycbm]

Replace it with a nice big plastic one designed for horses.

Those risk impaction colic because the horse gets fed up with pressing the button before it's really drunk enough water.
.

 

[PurBee]

Now i see the device im amazed youve got horses that use it ok!
Its just 1 litre capacity and most horses prefer to suck-up from a volume of still water, rather than lap-up drink from a tiny flow of water.

I’d like to see a video of a horse using one, have searched but cant find one.

Another thing to consider (depending on where you are living and water source temperature in your winters) - mine hate the icy cold (2-4C) water direct from the pipe in winter, and prefer it to be sat in a trug to warm to ambient air temperature (7-10C here) or i add some hot water to quickly warm it. They drink a lot more when i warm it, than if i just gave really cold water direct from source. This is a winter issue only - they dont mind any temp water in the warmer months.
I can understand this behaviour of them, because if i was living outside in a coat in winter, i wouldnt want to drink much very cold liquid as it would make my stomach and intestines cold, making me feel colder. I’d only drink when really thirsty if that was all there was to drink.

Mine wouldnt drink much from a direct hose flow waterer in the winter due to the very cold temp of the water. In winter they each drink @40 litres per 24hrs (non working at rest horses in winter). If it was ice cold water that volume is halved.

 

[sonemmy]

That isnt designed for horses.

Yes the link i put here isn’t for horses, I just have them with a very similar system and the bowls are bigger and deeper, couldn’t find a good picture in a hurry

 

[sonemmy]

Now i see the device im amazed youve got horses that use it ok!
Its just 1 litre capacity and most horses prefer to suck-up from a volume of still water, rather than lap-up drink from a tiny flow of water.

I’d like to see a video of a horse using one, have searched but cant find one.

Another thing to consider (depending on where you are living and water source temperature in your winters) - mine hate the icy cold (2-4C) water direct from the pipe in winter, and prefer it to be sat in a trug to warm to ambient air temperature (7-10C here) or i add some hot water to quickly warm it. They drink a lot more when i warm it, than if i just gave really cold water direct from source. This is a winter issue only - they dont mind any temp water in the warmer months.
I can understand this behaviour of them, because if i was living outside in a coat in winter, i wouldnt want to drink much very cold liquid as it would make my stomach and intestines cold, making me feel colder. I’d only drink when really thirsty if that was all there was to drink.

Mine wouldnt drink much from a direct hose flow waterer in the winter due to the very cold temp of the water. In winter they each drink @40 litres per 24hrs (non working at rest horses in winter). If it was ice cold water that volume is halved.

The product in the link is with a very similar system to my waterers, which are for horses (deeper and a bit bigger). Most stables in baltic countries use these type of waterers. All my horses have been drinking from these without problems, the bowl fills up fast. Now in the winter season when the temperature drops below minus 7, we turn off the water system and put buckets into the stalls, but at the moment it’s warm and the water system is opened. The biggest problem is that he won’t understand that he has to hold the button and the water comes, although I have shown him it many times. Other horses learn in to use within a day or two, even the ones who just come from another stable 24/7 turnout. Sadly yes, can’t put the warmer water in the system to make it more pleasant.

 

[Vodkagirly]

I would replace it with an auto fill version. It would be easier than training and cheaper than a vets bill.

 

[TheMule]

You must give the horse water! Who cares if he can’t use the water drinker…. Give him a bucket!

 

[sonemmy]

You must give the horse water! Who cares if he can’t use the water drinker…. Give him a bucket!

I don't leave him without drinking either, I have always filled the bowl with water and done it again late at night if necessary when he has drunk most of it. We also water the hay. It is said that the second source of water must not be set aside, otherwise he will not look at the device and it will be of no use. For the last few nights I have put a bucket of water aside, if he won’t learn to use it anytime soon, I’ll start with it again in the spring season, I guess.Of course, at the same time, I'm afraid of the possibility of colic and I’m trying my best to prevent it. I just don't want to believe that he is the first horse in 15 years who doesn't know how to use it.