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Post by berrygrower on Dec 21, 2009 20:30:09 GMT 1
There is a herd of gypsy cob ponies near my house,brood mares and two with their foals. 8 of the 300 owned by a man who keeps them all over the placeround here. They get minimal care, a big bale of haylage once a week which lasts about 4 days etc. The hose to the trough froze a couple of days ago so the trough is empty except for thick ice round the edges, I managed to take them some water today, one mare, with the foal was very thirsty, the others weren't desperate but did have a drink, I suppose they are eating snow. (there's a footpath across the field if anyone is wondering)
Just wondered how long horses can survive in snowy conditions without water?
They're all lovely in their own way but one is especially so. Most of them are wary of people but this 4 year old mare has always been very friendy and has a very sweet nature, she just loves to spend time with me and to be stroked. She's a good looking horse too about 15hh. I can't buy her but I'd love to see her go to a home where she is appreciated and cared for. They're all for sale anytime as far as I can make out, so if anyone is looking for one pm me i'll send you details.
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big e
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Post by big e on Dec 21, 2009 20:54:59 GMT 1
I think if there is snow to eat they should be ok but they dont all like eating snow. There are two at my farm that have had 1 round bale all winter and if i didn't give them water they would never have any. Its making my blood boil at the moment though because im bringing water from home and i have to do 3-4 trips to water my own 11 horses  Mare is pregnant and due to foal in Feb too  |
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Trouble
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Post by Trouble on Dec 21, 2009 21:17:28 GMT 1
I'm having this dilemma because our yard water is totally frozen, so I'm taking water carriers from home. There's only so much i ca carry, because I just don't have enough water tight containers, so i figure I'm best to male sure the stable is well stocked - the field is shard so anything I take up will get split 3 ways and I can't carry enough for that.....so i put it in the stable for night time, and I know he likes eating snow so he's not going to go too far amiss on that.
Not ideal, but what is in this weather???
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izzy
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Post by izzy on Dec 22, 2009 0:15:57 GMT 1
I was told today that horses didnt need water when snow lay on the ground!!! i was always led to believe eating snow can cause colic
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Post by kafee on Dec 22, 2009 0:58:21 GMT 1
The only footprints going to my ponies water trough are mine!
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emi
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Post by emi on Dec 22, 2009 11:05:11 GMT 1
Yeah, our field water feeders freeze over obviously and I've spent many a time freezing my hands off breaking inch thick ice only for pony to come in a drink a bucket of water from the yard tap (doesn't freeze luckily)  Don't think he likes drinking from the trough when it's that cold, or he just drinks the snow! |
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Post by specialsparkle3 on Dec 22, 2009 15:25:30 GMT 1
 A mare with a foal at foot needs a lot of water to make milk for the foal.Snow is not enough.
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Post by portiabuzz on Dec 22, 2009 15:33:32 GMT 1
poor things..
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Post by jill on Dec 22, 2009 15:41:20 GMT 1
If you are attending to their basic needs, you are papering over the cracks. If they are not being properly cared for and their needs are not being met, contact a welfare organisation - WHW or someone like Blue Cross etc if they are in the relvant area.
WHW told me some years ago the worst thing you can do if you find horses underfed is to feed them yourself. It treats some of the symptoms but not the problem.
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Post by Furiey on Dec 22, 2009 23:58:01 GMT 1
They all should be provided with water. If they aren't, as jill said report them. We all have problems in this weather but to leave them continuously without water is not good enough.
I have a floating ball in Bailey's trough and he moves it out of the way to leave a hole he can drink through. He does drink, footprints lead to the trough and the water goes down. I do not remove the ice but take up hot water which melts the ice (or some of it at least) in the trough to give more unfrozen water than I could carry up. The water is left cold by this, not hot or warm just incase anyone is wondering.
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Post by june on Dec 23, 2009 20:38:53 GMT 1
If horses are being left without water I'd be calling WHW. Water is a basic need so they will be able to act quickly.
It is a nightmare in this weather but if you have to carry water out to the horses then that's what you have to do. Some of ours manage to break the ice on the troughs with their feet but mostly we have to break the ice for them.
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Post by portiabuzz on Dec 23, 2009 21:45:05 GMT 1
what's the latest OP?
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Post by jill on Dec 24, 2009 8:49:39 GMT 1
In extreme circumstances the welfare organisations may very well get the local Fire & Rescue Service to bring water in a pump, they did it for some abandoned cattle not far from here one summer.
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Post by mandal on Dec 24, 2009 10:36:56 GMT 1
I filled three large and a smallish tub trug with water for my six last night at 10pm and was worried it wasn't enough. They drank all but one over night!! Horses do need water!!!
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Post by highlanderpony2002 on Dec 24, 2009 15:43:45 GMT 1
mine must be getting enough as I refilled the slush from the buckets with tap water and they totally ignored it
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Mare is pregnant and due to foal in Feb too 
Don't think he likes drinking from the trough when it's that cold, or he just drinks the snow!
A mare with a foal at foot needs a lot of water to make milk for the foal.Snow is not enough. 
