to people with horses in overnight. . .

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Rosiejazzandpia

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how do you stop water buckets freezing over in the stable?!
I have resorted to floating plastic mane brushes in my horses bucket and surrounding the buckets with straw!
 
Maria13 said:
how do you stop water buckets freezing over in the stable?!
I have resorted to floating plastic mane brushes in my horses bucket and surrounding the buckets with straw!
Click to expand...

I have the EVA thick mats in my stable and so far so good for keeping warm. I have some foil backed bubble wrap which I can wrap around my trug if it gets any colder
 
We got a slightly bigger bucket and put normal water bucket inside and packed the gap in between the buckets with newspaper :)

Don't do what we did the first time and do it with hay without thinking and J ate it all!
 
I stop putting salt in her hard feed and put it in her water instead. It is a small amount, well within the limits and salt lowers the freezing temp of water.

On a really bad night like we are expecting for a while, I will also insulate by banking her bed up against the buckets. I can't put any objects in or she won't drink. I also do late checks so can break if needed, but not had to yet.
 
I keep mine away from the door so on the other side of the stable on a closed side, or try adding a little salt to the water to lower the freezing point.

I know some friends put tennis balls in their water buckets to stop them freezing too
 
Add hot water, as has been mentioned. Also, water buckets each go into a larger bucket - I put a load of wood pellets into the bottom of the larger bucket to create a warm 'bed' for the second bucket, and I pack the gap between the walls of the buckets with straw. Have also seen people do this with slightly dirty bedding (not filthy, obviously).
I'm also on rubber matting, which is slightly warmer than a concrete floor.
 
Deep litter:D Raises the temperature in the stable nicely, stopping water freezing and meaning that you can use lighter rugs.
 
I have started mine on deep litter and have the base right up to by the door and just a hole for bucket. Up to now the water has not frozen :)
 
My stables are brick built and really warm. Also fully rubber matted. I use a thick kangaroo rubber water bucket rather than the thin plastic ones - never had frozen water
 
I move them away from the door, which has gaps below it and between top and bottom.

If it gets really cold (like the year when it went -17 for a couple of weeks) I actually shut the top doors. The stables have plenty of ventilation, and it just takes the chill off.
 
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