A horse must always have access to clean water, and the drinker determines how much work that is for you. Here you will find automatic drinkers that connect to the water supply, drinkers with a float valve and large feed/water troughs that you fill yourself in places without a water pipe.
Automatic or filled by hand?
| Type | Water supply needed | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Drinker with paddle (plastic or metal) | Yes | Your horse pushes the paddle with its nose and water flows in |
| Drinker with float valve, 6 l | Yes | A float keeps the water level topped up; your horse does not have to do anything |
| Feed/water trough 15, 60 or 90 l | No | You fill it yourself, with a hose or a water bag |
A horse needs to learn how to use a paddle drinker; a float drinker is obvious straight away. In a field without a water supply, you can bring water with the AquaTrans water bag and pour it into a large trough.
How much water should be available?
How much a horse drinks varies greatly from day to day. Heat, work, sweating and feed all play a part: fresh grass contains a lot of moisture, hay almost none. A stabled horse on hay therefore drinks more than the same horse on lush pasture. For a trough you fill yourself: choose the capacity so that, until your next check, there is enough for all the horses in that field, even on a hot day.
Points to note
Pipes and automatic drinkers can freeze in winter, so in frost check that water is really coming through. The protective bracket shields a drinker from knocks and rubbing. Clean drinkers regularly; hay and feed residue quickly make the water murky. If there is a new horse in the stable, check during the first days that it finds the paddle.
These drinkers belong with stable and field. For feed, see feed buckets and mangers, for hay haynets and hay racks and for enrichment stable toys. If your horse sweats a lot, also read about electrolytes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a paddle drinker and a float drinker?
With a paddle drinker, water only flows when the horse pushes the paddle. A float drinker refills itself to a set level, so there is always water ready.
Can I connect an automatic drinker myself?
You can if you have a water pipe by the stable and are handy with fittings. If in doubt, have a plumber do it.
Which trough should I choose for a field without a water supply?
A large 60 or 90 litre feed/water trough, which you fill with a hose or water bag. Check it daily.