My girl prefers green slimey water!

[ynneb]

Just moved my mare into a different paddock and of course filled a large container with fresh water just inside the gate. Turned her out this AM and she trotted straight over to a large field trough used by the previous occupant ignoring the nice clean water in my container and drank the green soup therein, then strolled up the field, had a nibble of grass and went back to the green stuff for seconds. My question is - should I clean it out as I had planned to or is there something in that water that is actually good for them?

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Someone may shoot me down, but i believe that most horses prefer dirtier water.. my mare is exactly the same!

Im not sure if it has some added nutrients that they feel is more adequate for them- no idea!

 

[Jade2007]

Ha ha my old mare used to drink out of puddles in the winter rather than her nice clean trough. Freakish ponios

 

[kandm]

Mickey always prefered clean water, if he had the choice out of clean or dirty he went for clean everytime!

lol!

 

[Tia]

I read a paper on this a while ago and it said that horses generally prefer (what we would class as) dirtier water. If I recall, the reason given was because water which has "things" living in it is apparently "cleaner" and has more nutrients for the horse. Quite unlike human chlorinated, fluoride and chemical-ridden water.

 

[katie_and_toto]

When I took my ponio cross-country schooling he stuck his face into the water complex up to his noseband, blew some bubbles then had a drink

Have no idea what he found appealing about dirty water

 

[dun_in]

At least it never seems to make horses ill - unlike dogs!!!!!

 

[Zebedee]

Green soupy water = natures electrolytes.

 

[ynneb]

Thanks for all your replies. Good to know she's not alone in her taste for what we'd consider undrinkable and that it's probably full of good things too.