Hay Soaker - home made

[supagran]

I want to make my own hay soaker this year. I’ve got a half blue barrel, but tipping it last year just about killed my back! So was thinking of putting a tap on it at the bottom, but this will leave about an inch or two of water at the bottom of the barrel. The tap would be at the back when the barrel is in the stable so wouldn't get kicked, or my horse injured.

Any other ideas or way of doing this? Please? TIA.

 

[MuddyTB]

I have similar, half an old green garden water butt. I don't have a tap, just a hole drilled near the bottom and I use a big rubber bung to plug the hole which can easily be pulled out to drain it. Once empty I rest mine at an angle on a few bricks and the bottom couple of inches also drain out then.

 

[CurryCombTalesBlog]

There was one on amazon that was selling a bin with a spigot also for a few pounds more! It drained easily but I put the bin in the field, which then caused issues as the spigot broke when demon pony beat it up!

 

[Shay]

We bought a second hand winch on ebay and rigged it to a welded scaffold frame. The winch takes the weight and hangs the net to drip dry. You need a fairly handy OH though.

 

[cauda equina]

Could you siphon most of the water out, then tip the rest?
Use a bit of hose that reaches the bottom of the tub, suck on the free end until you get a tasty mouthful of hayjuice then stick the free end into a drain while it's still full of water
Alternatively you could prime the emptying hose from a tap which is probably more hygienic!