We can’t assume horses will break through a thin layer of ice or be willing to drink water that contains chunks of ice. Some will not do either. The authors share three ways to reduce the risk of dehydration even in the coldest weather.
- Keep buckets and troughs ice-free
- Check all automated waterers daily
- Mix up some mashes
Source: EQUUS, January 8, 2021. Link.
INSIGHTS: Keeping water open isn’t a pleasant task. Wind direction changes often freeze an otherwise trouble-free water source. Reminding horse owners to focus on available water can be done in a variety of ways as digital communications offer vehicles animal owners appreciate, share, and remember.
Consider social media on cold mornings, short reminder emails and contact local papers or radio with five or six sentences as a reminder from your veterinary clinic or retail store. It would be fun to ask a veterinary nurse-tech to do this type of messaging.