Water transporting help please...

O

Olivio

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 July 2008
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265
Location
Perth, Scotland
www.thekickinghorse.co.uk
Hey everyone.

The realities of winter without my 4x4 hit home today after my taps froze for the first time. My horses are down a farm road from the main yard as I have a field and a barn to myself. I ended up lugging 4 water containers which I shattered after doing! This is all very well in the daylight with no ice but this road turns to ice very quickly and as I'm the only one down there it doesn't get salt (a WHOLE other issue!!). Anyway, without the luxury of a 4x4 how does everyone else get water to their horses? I was looking at this http://www.route11.co.uk/1247/Pyram...e=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=1247 but I'm not sure how heavy it will be to tip into the buckets and I can just see myself getting dragged down an icy hill with it!! I've heard that H2go bags can be a bit tempramental and difficult to get the water into the bucket.

Thank you inadvance for your thoughts.....
 
I would be interested in seeing if anyone has any hints or tips on this, I currently use a water container chucked in the back of my Corsa and try and park as close as I can and with a lot of huffing and puffing manage to get most of the water down me and in the bucket.

Someone needs to design an easy water container or does someone know of one already.

I dont mind to much as most of the fields I go in have automatic water troughs but the odd ones don't and typically they are the ones that are the furthest away.

Please help us....
 
I've just bought a wheeled bucket for a tenner from poundstrecher, lots of our yard use them not sure how good they would be "offroad" so to speak.
 
How close is the nearest water trough?

We have one field where the water trough is broken but there is another very close by (but not in that field obviously!).

I got a huge tub which originally is used for mineral licks for cows from OH, cleaned it out and filled it up bucket by bucket from the nearest trough and then just topped it up every day - would that be a possibility?

Or if you got one of these... http://www.shop.game-keepers.co.uk/...rdNxs9rCqYwDpQEoHcj&shop_param=cid=10&aid=44& would the farmer transport it down for you?
 
How about an old bath (or two) which you insulate round and put a horse safe surround and top that up when things not frozen. Then you can decant this water when things are frozen in to bucket/s or use as field troughs depending on your situation.

I always drain my taps when freezing water and put plenty of spare big water buckets on a raised surface eg pallet with cover or surrouded by hay/straw to help.

I think the roller containers will still take a lot of effort. Wheelbarrow water bags are also awkward especially if you are having to fill them before you transport them to the stables.

Alternative, if you have access to an electric supply what about putting trace heating tape? Probably too late for this winter but something to bear in mind for the future.
 
Ravenwood said:
How close is the nearest water trough?

We have one field where the water trough is broken but there is another very close by (but not in that field obviously!).

I got a huge tub which originally is used for mineral licks for cows from OH, cleaned it out and filled it up bucket by bucket from the nearest trough and then just topped it up every day - would that be a possibility?

Or if you got one of these... http://www.shop.game-keepers.co.uk/...rdNxs9rCqYwDpQEoHcj&shop_param=cid=10&aid=44& would the farmer transport it down for you?
Click to expand...

The only prob with the IBCs as pictured is that they do freeze up if you get a prolonged cold spell. Not so much the water in the main area of the tank as the tap area.

Up here in NE Scotland on top of a hill facing a mountain the only thing I have found 100% reliable is a six wheeled quad/mule (better than a normal quad as there is a big load carrying area and also they are more stable on bumps and lumps). An ancient one of those might still be a budget breaker but even a normal quad would be good. Make sure its well locked up tho, popular with the light fingered brigade.

In less extreme climes I would try an H2O bag. Or maybe that container. I have been known to just tie baler twine through the 25L water carrier handle and round my waist and on ice it goes quite nicely! Have done the same with the sheeps hay bales when the snow got to 4 foot drifts too!

Edited to add we have an old bath but it is cast iron and they are the first things to freeze even tho the volume of water is much bigger than in plastic trug, the water in the bucket freezes later
Also apparently adding glycerine to drinking water inhibits the freezing, should imagine not harmful tho dont know but my lami girl wont be getting any in hers :-))
 
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Take several of these:
a4aff790.jpg


fill with water then put on one of these:
e76cab68.jpg


:D

This what I did last year after having to cart water down a mile of bridleway which was covered in deep snow. Worked a charm and the containers are relatively easy to pick up :)
 
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Could you get lots of water containers or milk containers and pre-fill them at the yard when the tap is not frozen. Then bury them under straw. This insulates them well and they dont freeze. This worked for me this morning when the tap had frozen! When you need to move them just use a wheelbarrow or haynet
 
Thats a good point, I also store water by filling dustbins in my straw/hay store with water and packing pads of straw round them
 
I know last year was exceptional but my 360 litre tank was a solid ice cube(kept just inside barn). I had to take 25litre containers of hot water down twice a day to try to make sure they at least got a sip! It all just froze so quickly.

i think the sledge or roller or the amazon wheel cart(which looks very good value blimey bargain).

In the past i have kept my hoses in the garage and filled up from the back door but even the hoses in the garage froze. This year I plan to keep a length of hose in the kitchen indoors to stop that freezing.

Anything with wheels to carry the containers (i got 25 litre ones off ebay) All of these ideas sound good.Shame someone cant invent a non electrical warmer.

I even took the kitchen flame lighter to try to defrost things.But that was pathetic!
 
If you are moving water in tubs/buckets the easiest way is to line them with heavy duty garbage bags, fill them about 2/3 full then tie the bags. :) We used to put the tubs on a plastic toboggan, fill them with warm water, then drag them to the stable/paddock and slide them off, roll the bags down the sides and leave them that way. Some of the horses snorted a bit but they got over it. We used black tubs to maximise heat absorption from the sun. For in the barn we used tall buckets that were easier to pour, same trick with the bags.

You could also do similar with a wagon or hand truck if you don't have convenient ice/snow.
 
Olivio said:
Hey everyone.

The realities of winter without my 4x4 hit home today after my taps froze for the first time. My horses are down a farm road from the main yard as I have a field and a barn to myself. I ended up lugging 4 water containers which I shattered after doing! This is all very well in the daylight with no ice but this road turns to ice very quickly and as I'm the only one down there it doesn't get salt (a WHOLE other issue!!). Anyway, without the luxury of a 4x4 how does everyone else get water to their horses? I was looking at this http://www.route11.co.uk/1247/Pyram...e=google&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=1247 but I'm not sure how heavy it will be to tip into the buckets and I can just see myself getting dragged down an icy hill with it!! I've heard that H2go bags can be a bit tempramental and difficult to get the water into the bucket.

Thank you inadvance for your thoughts.....
Click to expand...



I used to transport around 2 large water containers (25 litres each) a day throughout the year transporting in the back of my vectra and then emptying out into much large containers with lids (in the feed room/spare stable). It was back breaking, but then decided to invest in a road worthy (lights and brakes) water bowser which I purchased from ebay. It’s been great. This gets filled up (well almost) from home and I transport this to the yard and then empty some water out into the 3 large drum type containers (enough for the week) and cover (like before). If you purchase a water bowser then you could ask if the farmer wouldn’t mind filling it up for you and transporting it to your barn preferable in a sheltered location. You could then place the water into large plastic containers with lids. However, you need to do this before the snow/colder weather conditions. This is what I do now, but the bowser is kepted outside but covered up from the sunlight and colder conditions. Yes the tap at the rear will freeze up in the very cold conditions, but then I have already moved some of the water out already. I hope this helps.
 
I have to take water from home to the yard when we get the big freeze. Last winter I came across these and find them easy to get to and from the yard to the horses and from the house to the car. The only small problem is getting them in and out of the sink. But OH said he is going to rig up the hose onto the tap for me so I can fill them outside.


This is the link http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PYRAMID-L...ervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item230c6b6329
 
WelshD said:
I use 25l containers pulled on a sledge in the snow or ice

I like the look of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001DYO4...de=asn&creative=22218&creativeASIN=B001DYO4YU

I have seen them without the sides too and an H2Go bag would sit on one of those well and you could get a feed bucket under it to fill from the bag (I dont think a water bucket would fit..)
Click to expand...

I bought one of these for my Dad to use in the garden and it's quite good on rough terrain although I've not pulled it with anything very heavy in it, so not sure if it would get too heavy with a lot of water in it - especially if the field is uphill. The sides fold down (or can be taken off which is probably what Welsh D has seen) so you could get water in and out without having to lift it too high.
 
HappyElf said:
I have to take water from home to the yard when we get the big freeze. Last winter I came across these and find them easy to get to and from the yard to the horses and from the house to the car. The only small problem is getting them in and out of the sink. But OH said he is going to rig up the hose onto the tap for me so I can fill them outside.


This is the link http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PYRAMID-L...ervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item230c6b6329
Click to expand...

I have one of those and have been using it for about 4 years, filled at outside tap at home and then taken to the farm which has no running water (unless you count the stream!) you get a bit messy picking it up and emptying it if it's muddy but thats what overtrousers were invented for:) it's great becuase even my daughter can pull or push it when it's full but she can't carry a full bucket of water!
 
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