How much is too much? (water)

P

PaulnasherryRocky

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 June 2014
Messages
485
Visit site
Me again! posting on here loads lately, it's just so much more civilized than other forms of social media!


Anyway- My yard manager has approached me as she is worried about the amount my horse drinks, and I'm not sure if it is too much or not.

He is in his stable from about 5pm until 8:30-9am the next day and drinks the whole bucket (the tesco flexi bucket things) usually with only a little left in the bottom.

He is otherwise all well in himself, good weight and no other symptoms of anything as far as i'm aware

He has recently moved to the yard and whenever he moves yard his poo is always a bit wet for a while until he is settled in properly, and the grass is rich at the new place so I understand that would cause him to be a bit wet too- so could he just be drinking more to replace the wetness he is losing in his poo? I have owned him since February and he has always been good for drinking, though he used to only be in his stable for 8 hours a day so only drank half or just under half of the bucket. So as he is in his stable now for almost double the amount of time he used to be, for me It's normal to expect him to drink more?

I'm more than happy to ring my vet for advise, but would prefer to ask on here first just in case I'd waste the vets time asking silly questions!
 
Personally, I wouldn't be worried. I'd be way more inclined to worry if he wasn't drinking much!

Sometimes I think it can come down to all horses being different. I have a 14.1hh and an approx. 17hh. The 17hh sometimes has 2 big flexi tubs in her stable in winter whereas the 14.1hh only has 1 - which I also don't have to fret about filling all the way to the top because she never drinks a full bucket! I know there is obviously the size difference but that is a huge difference in the amount they drink and they've always been the same. They're never dehydrated, I know they're stable because of their poos (like most of us!) and if the 14.1hh started drinking more, I'd only be worried if she seemed poorly.

And yes, it makes perfect sense for him to drink more when he's in the stable for longer - that's another I'd-be-worried-if-he-didn't moment really. I'm sure your yard manager means well and it's nice that your boy has someone looking out for him but I think it's an unnecessary worry. If you think he's alright in himself, I'm sure he's fine x
 
Is he urinating more than usual? If he is, then yes I would be investigating - thinks like diabetes insipidus can present with excessive drinking and urinating, as can various kidney problems. If not, then no.
 
It is still quite warm at night too - or at least it is here. That could increase water consumption. As above -I wouldn't worry unless there are other issues too. If you add extra salt to the feed you might want to reduce that - but it doesn't sound excessive to me.
 
That would seem a normal amount for a horse that is in for that length of time, mine will drink much the same overnight as they have access to hay at all times, the more they eat the more they tend to drink, as said above it is better they are drinking well than not enough and yours is not drinking an excessive amount.
 
According to my vet textbook horses tend to drink around 50-60ml per kg, per day. So 25-30 litres a day for a 500kg horse. Of course every horse is different and their management, diet etc will also affect this.

I wouldn't be too worried, it does not sound excessive to me. All horses are different but most I have known will drink nearly a whole large flexi-tub when in overnight. Most horses don't drink as much when out on grass, but tend to drink more when in due to having dry forage such as hay. I wound be worried if he was not drinking as much, or if his urination has increased too.
 
Last edited:
Average daily water consumption can vary from 19-40 litres per day (3-7 litres per 100kg of body weight) so unless your horse is frequently well outside of these averages I wouldn't worry. Also they drink more with hay.

Also be worried if horse wasn't drinking!

Tesco flexi-buckets come in 15 and 42 l - so assuming it's the big one? As it won't be completely overflowing will probably be around 40 litres.
 
A new girl at a yard I was at was wondering why her horse drank so much until someone pointed out the horse was unclipped but had a full neck rug on - poor thing was over heating!
 
If it has dry hay to eat it will drink more too. It doesn't sound an excessive amount, but I did have a horse that had been sent away to be broken in and I was contacted as they were worried that he was drinking lots.

Got him back home and got the vet who scratched his head a lot and then decided to drench him for liver fluke, as prior to going away had been turned out for a while with sheep on what was quite "flukey" ground. Fluke is a liver worm that's life cycle passes through snails which live on marshy, damp ground and sheep and cattle are very susceptible. Seemed to do the trick as he was fine afterwards, although I didn't turn him out on the same field again.
 
It doesn't seem that large an amount but Cushings can cause an increase in thirst and it is this time of year that the seasonal rise of ACTH levels occurs and when mine was diagnosed due to his increased thirst/urination. If he continues to drink more than you think he should without reason then a test would give his levels and show if it was the case with him..
 
My first port of call would be to check the water supply in the field. It may be your horse is choosing not to drink in the field and drinking more from the stable bucket.
 
Our 14.2 mare drinks a full trug of water each night when she is in during the winter. She always has done in the four years we have owned her but my 15hh mare drinks 2/3 of a bucket. I would think they drink more having hay which is dry than grass which has moisture in it.
 
love the quotes for 30-40l per day for a 500kg - my mare averages 70-80l a day. Those tubtrugs - she drinks 1 1/2 of those a night plus out in the field. When I first got her we were concerned, she had blood work and a pee sample done and all was fine so I don't worry about it.
They are all individuals - if you're really worried get a pee sample and pop it into the vets for a dip stick and that will give you a good indication of health realting to kidneys etc
 
Ours are drinking more than normal at the moment because their coats are growing but it is still quite warm, and there is less in the grass so they're eating more hay.
 
Unless there is other cause for concern, I wouldn't be too worried.

My 4yo has been known to drink half a flexi tub, followed by someone else's half a flexi tub, then continue to dive into various troughs and drink more. He pees normally, he's fine and healthy in himself, but he's a bit of a water baby and will gravitate towards any source of water. If he's not drinking it, he's playing with it... and if it's someone else's water, all the better(!).

They're all individuals. As long as they're happy and healthy, I don't see a problem :)
 
Thanks for all of your replies, I definitely don't think hes drinking too much now as he isn't urinating more and he does get far more feed/haylage at the new yard and more exercise, he does love his salt lick so maybe I should only let him at it on special occasions!
 
PaulnasherryRocky said:
Thanks for all of your replies, I definitely don't think hes drinking too much now as he isn't urinating more and he does get far more feed/haylage at the new yard and more exercise, he does love his salt lick so maybe I should only let him at it on special occasions!
Click to expand...

He probably needs the salt, I would not restrict it and would also add some to his feed, they often require more salt than they can get from a lick, by giving extra they sometimes get the balance right and the drinking actually reduces, it is certainly not something to limit to special occasions it is part of their dietary needs.
 
be positive said:
He probably needs the salt, I would not restrict it and would also add some to his feed, they often require more salt than they can get from a lick, by giving extra they sometimes get the balance right and the drinking actually reduces, it is certainly not something to limit to special occasions it is part of their dietary needs.
Click to expand...

Ah worth knowing- thanks!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top