Water availability?

[Newbie32]

Hi Everyone

I’m new to riding (just a couple of months into it) and am really enjoying it. I have a question I’m hoping you can clear up which has been niggling me. I ride once a week at my local riding school and have noticed every time I’ve been there be it mid week/weekend/evening or daytime there is never any water in the stables for the horses (in fact the water troughs are bone dry) is this something that should concern me or is this common practice for school horses? I don’t come from a horse owning background so can only reference to dog ownership and I would always have fresh water available for my dogs. I’d really appreciate your feedback as it does worry me, the horses must be thirsty after being run around an area for an hour. Thank you so much! X

 

[be positive]

Well done for noticing, it certainly is not normal for horses to be kept without free access to water, as you are a new client it is something you could bring up the next time you are there, make it a genuine question as you have here and see what they say, it is not really excusable but they may have a reason they can justify, come back on here afterwards with the answer and we will make suggestions as to what you can do, I dont want to jump in and say report them when there may be an answer that you have not thought of, I cannot really think of any but give them a chance.
Do the horses look well generally, a bit like dogs they should seem bright, have clear eyes, clean noses, shiney coats, not be too obviously fat or thin and enough energy to do their job without seeming distressed in any way.

 

[Leo Walker]

The horses may well be stood in the stables just for a few minutes waiting for their client to come. I cant imagine they would survive long if they were living in with no water!

 

[Goldenstar]

Are you in the uk ?
if so you probably seeing horses ready to work .
if abroad it certainly was common when I was abroad to keep horses without water and only give it them in a controlled way several times a day.