Handy tip for icy weather.....

C

custard

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This is a bit sad but had to share...

I've discovered the best way to break the ice on water troughs is to use a clean metal shavings fork then you can use it to scoop out the broken ice. Ace, no more frozen fingers or floating mini icebergs!
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Yes that's great. But do you know how to prevent your horses water bucket from freezing? Do you think a sprinkle of salt on top of the water or maybe the addition of a tablespoon of vegtable oil would make a difference?
 
I breed falabellas (notorious for not drinking enough) so I give them warm water to drink - I found out by accident that this also stops the water freezing in the stable overnight! At last check before lights out, I empty out about half the water bucket and top up with hot - does the trick for me!
The field kept horses really appreciate a glug of warm water when they come in too and hot water is delivered down to the paddock twice a day which is much liked too. Simple I know but it works.
Feeds are also moistened with warm water - happy minis all round!
(especially as extremely cold here in scotland right now)
:-)
 
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Are you supposed to take the ice out :O

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i cant,it`s stuck around the sides
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it`s tooo thick to batter with an hammer,i tried.)
 
Do Tennis balls in the water help stop it freezing? I have brought some in bulk from eBay to add to all the buckets but not sure it will do the trick. Oh well will have a VERY happy dog if they don't work as he will end up with 30 more tennis balls!
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Do Tennis balls in the water help stop it freezing? I have brought some in bulk from eBay to add to all the buckets but not sure it will do the trick. Oh well will have a VERY happy dog if they don't work as he will end up with 30 more tennis balls!
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i have never found them to do anything unless it is very thin ice,in which case it is not a prob anyway.
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Tennis balls are supposed to just leave a little gap so birds can still find a bit to drink or, if you have fish in a pond, the waste gases don't build up and oxygen can get in.

I would NOT put salt into the water! For a start, you'd have to put a significant amount in to make the water salty enough to lower its freezing point and that level of salinity would make your horse very ill - that's if he would drink it in the first place. Vegetable oil: it will float on the water so whether or not the water froze underneath is immaterial as the horse would be unlikely to plunge its nose into a bucket of vegetable oil to get a drink. I know I wouldn't!

TBH, with temperatures of -11C, you've just got to find a way and get on with it. Roll on the mud and rain!
 
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TBH, with temperatures of -11C, you've just got to find a way and get on with it. Roll on the mud and rain!

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No, No, No, I definitely do not want Mud and rain as my field will then resemble a rally track! Would much rather have to lug buckets of water around the place than lose my wellies in the mud!
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big bucket stuffed with shavings smaller water bucket sits inside...then filled with warm water...doesn't freeze over night then!

Don't bother breaking ice on troughs in the field...they can do it themselves if they're desperate...one of my ponies finds it very amusing that his tongue sticks to it!
 
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