young cob drinking lots of water and eating lots

[becca_lee]

I have a 2 year old, gelding, cob. standing at 14.1hh at the moment, ive had him since June 2013 we moved yard 3 months ago.

He drinks 1 and a half 40L flexi tubs a night, has 2 stuffed haynets and eats his straw bed.

im new to looking after a youngster and horses in general.

Is this normal?

thanks

 

[Buddy'sMum]

That does seem like a lot of water to drink overnight. Has he got access to clean water during the day (and not guzzling when he comes in because he's really thirsty)?
Best way to be sure he's getting enough hay is to weigh him and your hay. Use a weightape for him and a cheap luggage scale for your hay. Assuming you're not feeding him anything other than grass and good quality hay (and straw!), aim to feed 2% of his bodyweight per day (eg if he weighs 400kg, he'll need about 8kg forage a day).
Is he up to date with worming?
As long as he's not got a worm problem and he's looking well I wouldn't worry too much, he's probably just having a growth spurt. My 2-year old is a food monster, never stops eating. Or growing!

 

[becca_lee]

There are two big buckets in the field for 3 horses. He gets chaff plus mare and young stock morning and night. He's up to date with worming as he had trouble with that when the previous owner got him. I'm hoping it's a growth spurt

 

[rema]

Is he fed on dry hay?.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Have a look at the field buckets to see if there is anything getting into the water that is stopping the horse drinking freely in the field.

Last winter my yearlings were coming in thirsty and a check of their self filling field trough revealed a dead rat.

 

[becca_lee]

Yes

 

[becca_lee]

Their buckets are checked and topped up everyday

 

[rema]

That could be why he is drinking lots..Because of the dry hay.Mine are drinking lots and were on dry hay so I damped the hay for a couple of nights and they drank less.

 

[becca_lee]

I'll try doing that see if it'll make a difference. He's getting a rather dirty bed at night too to stop him eating the straw aswell

 

[xgemmax]

Probably the hay, if he is eating 2 haynets a night and straw then that will be making him thirsty!

 

[becca_lee]

I'm putting it down to growing. Hopefully he is going to even out soon