Help/advice/ideas needed for a project....

SatansLittleHelper

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Friend and I have the chance to rent a small field locally as a top up field to what we already have. It needs alot of work but the company who own it aren't interested in sorting repairs etc, though it's cheap enough for us to not worry too much about this. However, the field has no water supply. We are used to having self filling troughs so this is our biggest potential deal breaker.
So I guess I'm looking for solutions to this issue...is it expensive to get some kind of water supply fitted?? Is lugging water to the field from home going to be the giant pain in the ar£e that I suspect it might be?? What alternatives are there??
 

Widgeon

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I'd probably buy one of those trailer mounted IBCs / water bowsers - you can find them for about £700 second hand. A bit of a one-off spend but might be worth it in the long term. Then empty it into the troughs and store it safely away at home when it's not in use!
 

Fieldlife

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Ideal is find a kind neighbour who will let you run a hosepipe from their land.

Second best is to put some water carriers in your car, fill by hosepipe from home. Put trough right be field gate, back car right up to trough and tip containers in from car.

I assume if it is an overflow field, you will only use it some months of the year?
 

Abacus

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I do the first of these at our rented field. Our neighbours are kind as they aren’t on a meter but you could offer to pay.

an alternative is to use it for hay rather than grazing, if carting water about is too expensive.
 

Widgeon

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I assume if it is an overflow field, you will only use it some months of the year?

Good point, if it's a winter field you might get away with it better than if they'll be in there all summer. Another option might be to install a basic shelter and run some guttering into barrels off the roof - it's amazing how much water comes off a small section of roof when it really rains.
 

Polos Mum

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If there are any buildings at all - an IBC (or several) linked to the down pipes would work well.

A simple IBC on a trailer would also - depending on how accessible it is in winter (muddy gateways) and how many horse / how long 1000 lt would last (as above summer vs. winter use makes a difference)

Assuming you have somewhere you could bring the IBC and fill it up - cheap box trailer and IBC won't be as much as a proper bowser.

Unless there is a lovely next door neighbour who isn't on metered water - installing a perm water supply (which they will likely want metered as a new connection) isn't going to be a good plan
 

Vodkagirly

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Good point, if it's a winter field you might get away with it better than if they'll be in there all summer. Another option might be to install a basic shelter and run some guttering into barrels off the roof - it's amazing how much water comes off a small section of roof when it really rains.

Agree with this. I have an ibc that is filled by the roof of 2 stables. I use it alot as its far quicker than a hose. It's only ran out once in 2 years for 3 horses.
If you search market place they come in for about £25
 

tda

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I have the same issue at the moment as some (5) ponies have gone over to hay field as we have no grass at home, as i have to go and check them anyway, I currently have 5 X 20 litre plastic tubs which I fill at home (already in the back of the truck) and then have the water tubs just inside the gate.
It's ok, and manageable in autumn/winter , they will be back home by Xmas 8f not before , I don't think I could keep up with the amount they would need in the summer.
There is a house next door, so I am going to ask if they would fill a bath a couple of times a week with a hosepipe
I have actually got a small trailer that I could strap an ibc to and drive it over, but the entrance to the field is off a fast road, up a small slope and it would be tricky getting in and out without help to keep ponies back.
 
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