...Horse not drinking....

[chestnutmarelover]

I have just over 2 acres divided into 5 paddocks so can rest & rotate, moved tb into one on friday night, since then he has drunk NOTHING Yes I know they get moisture out of the grass but we've had some really warm days since then, changed water, added another tub so he has the choice of 3 now, added salt to feed..... When I rode him out this morning he was unusually donkey'fied, this is probably why? Seems ok otherwise, eating ok etc, any ideas why he's suddenly stopped drinking? Im gettin abit worried now

 

[You Wont Forget Me]

Try making up some sugar beet just a really small amount so its really watery heard that works, also head someone say putting apple juice into it can help too!

 

[Queenofdiamonds]

I have heard the apple juice one too!

 

[tallyho!]

There is an old saying... It goes something like: can take a horse to water but you can't make it drink!

Don't worry if all else seems fine and you have checked pulse ok etc. pinch the skin on the neck and if it goes straight back to normal, no dehydration. If not,then he is dehydrated and you do need to get water in somehow.

Call the vet too if he is dehydrated and won't drink.

 

[VioletStripe]

Try adding some apple juice or another type of fruit juice to the water, or apparently adding an apple or carrot to float on top can often entice them? If he's dehydrated when you do the pinch test, maybe give the vet a call and try giving him some very sloppy sugar beet, as said above? Hope he drinks soon xx

 

[starryeyed]

You could try a "horse quencher" if any tack/feed shops near you have them in stock (http://www.horsequencher.co.uk/)

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Don't worry, our 3 have been exactly the same. There seems to be plenty of moisture in the grass.

 

[Nocturnal]

If he is unusually quiet I would take his temp to make sure all is well. Pinch test also, to check for dehydration. If both ok, then don't worry about it unless you get other symptoms.

 

[Luci07]

Sugar beet water is a good way of getting horses to drink. Check your water supplies again and scrub out the troughs. My youngster is not drinking from the water troughs at the moment in the field...water clean but come to the conclusion it is tainted as the troughs are new. He has extra when he comes in which seems to be working but we are keeping a close eye on him

 

[chestnutmarelover]

Thanks all, hopefully he will have drank out of something in morn, if not, will bring him in, hay always makes them thirsty, failing that i'll get hold of some sugarbeet