Using a garden hose for field water is it safe

[dorsetladette]

I use a hose for my water and often drink out of the hose too.

How does this person think water gets to the tap?

Maybe they read an article recently about not dripping the end of a shared hose in the water bucket at comps as its an easy way to spread infections, then completely misinterpreted it?

 

[PapaverFollis]

I can understand being concerned about exposure to leaching plastics. But honestly we are exposed to so much rubbish now it seems like a real drop in the ocean to worry about hosepipe water for horses! I just don't think it is a worry that is worth the expense of the human grade hosepipe. If you can afford it, great (probably). But I think the horses would be better benefitted by spending the money on other things to safeguard them. Like good, clean forage. Or good fences. Or... well the list goes on.

Priorities. Low hanging fruit. Tradeoffs. Etc etc.

I'm struggling with wording this thought but hopefully the meaning comes across OK.

I can understand the concerns of the person who spoke to OP. But think it is a misplaced and over-exaggerated concern? If someone wants to spend disproportionate money on a concern that many, many horses are exposed to constantly with no obvious repercussions that is up to them. But OP should not feel obliged to worry about it. And a human grade hosepipe would be very far down my list of "Things to spend money on that might benefit my horses".

 

[Barton Bounty]

I use a hose for my water and often drink out of the hose too.

How does this person think water gets to the tap?

Maybe they read an article recently about not dripping the end of a shared hose in the water bucket at comps as its an easy way to spread infections, then completely misinterpreted it?

The hoses under ground are always blue basically human graded, i think OP was meaning is it ok to use just a b & q hose ?

 

[cauda equina]

I expect a lot of our horses drink out of plastic tubs or buckets anyway, unless anyone has access to teak stable buckets

 

[Polos Mum]

OP I would look at the cost of a roll of blue water pipe from scewfix or the like. Water will come out just fine from both but the blue pipe might be cheaper and will be more robust to the odd horse standing on it or wheelbarrow being pushed over it

 

[sunleychops]

Thats literally one of the most mental things I've ever heard

 

[Laurac13]

The blue water pipe would have been a great idea thank you but I installed 2 30 meter hoses joined together earlier this morning they run along the fence line so hopefully won’t be stood in by the others in the paddock ? I’ll let you all know if mini shettie turns his nose up at the hose water ?

 

[suestowford]

I wouldn't drink out of the hose unless I'd run it first as this morning when I was filling a bucket from it a slug came out with the water. It must have crawled inside to hide from the sun.

 

[shortstuff99]

Just as an aside to the blue pipe, they have to be buried as they are very susceptible to UV damage and growing bacti from the sun.

Hoses connected to drinking water taps have to have non return valves too otherwise you can be fined.

Whether a water fittings inspector is going to come to your yard and notice this is a different story ?

 

[maisie06]

What a load of tosh! Did it for getting on 30 years with no problems!!

 

[Leandy]

Surely most stabled horses regularly drink water from buckets filled by garden type hose! What an odd thing to say. I would agree that if water is stored for too long in a plastic type container that it can start to taste odd but (a) I presume it is not actually in the hose for that long at a time, (b) even if it were the yucky taste will wear off over time as you will the hose very regularly and (c) even if it didn't they would get used to it!

 

[Haphazardhacker]

I have mdpe (blue pipe) for most of the distance to the field but when we need to get it I even further I have hoses and they are perfectly fine. I always think on yards you can’t have too many taps and mdpe is so easy to install especially if you use speedfit connections.
The only issue I ever had was a hose that hadn’t been used for a while, I attached it and ran the water and for two seconds a mass of ants surfed out so always run it for a moment. Last week when washing off horses in the field I did have to run the taps for a while as the water was boiling as our mdpe isn’t underground but tucked behind the fence line, it was bonkers and actually scalding so watch for that too if we get a repeat of proper hot days.

 

[Goldenstar]

If it’s a long hose I let it run a few minutes before I fill the bowl .

 

[Laurac13]

The 60 meter hose is working fine and pony drinking the water ? I have been letting in run for a few minutes each time before filling up his water trug so it’s not too hot and to clear out the water sitting in the hose. ?