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Just because your horse can drink water does not guarantee that he will drink enough water to stay hydrated. Learn more about how to keep horses hydrated in this article in The Horse, December 2021.

Posted by Debra Powell, PhD, PAS | December 4, 2021 | Horse Care, Nutrition, Nutrition Basics, Water and Electrolytes

Approximately 70% of an adult horse's body is water. This fact emphasizes how important it is for all horses, regardless of their age or class, to have a consistent source of clean, fresh water for drinking.

"When we consider how much water our horses should consume each day, there are many variables to consider," said Amy Parker, horse nutritionist and technical service manager for the Macaulay Brothers in Versailles, Kentucky. "The amount of water intake will depend on the dry matter content of the diet, the horse's activity level and the ambient temperature."

Generally, horses consume 1 gallon of water per 100 pounds of body weight per day (at an ambient temperature of 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit). A healthy weight horse needs to consume 2% of its body weight per day. Therefore, a 1,000-pound horse must drink an average of 9 to 10 gallons of water per day to eat the necessary 20 pounds of hay—approximately 2 quarts of dry matter consumed per pound. Parker said that what your horse eats affects its water intake. Horses that eat a diet high in dry matter (such as hay) consume more water than horses that graze all day long. This is because as the intake of dry matter increases, the body needs extra water to maintain normal gastrointestinal (GI) tract function and saliva secretion. Water intake provides horses with proper water to digest and transport feed through the gastrointestinal tract.

In contrast, “fresh pasture may contain up to 90% moisture,” she said. "As a result, horses will consume less water because they get water from the grass they consume."

The horse's water consumption increases with the increase of environmental temperature. When you increase your exercise, your horse may drink up to 20 gallons of water per day, depending on the intensity and duration of the exercise. Parker said that in cold weather, the demand for water does not necessarily decrease, but increases as the horse consumes more dry matter.

Just because your horse can drink water does not guarantee that he will drink enough water to stay hydrated. Parker said horses prefer drinking water temperatures of 45 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Although horses will drink water at temperatures outside this range, they prefer milder water temperatures.

Whether your horse’s water source is a tank, bucket, or automatic drinking fountain, clean it at least once a week to prevent mosquitoes and bacteria and algae growth. Do not place the water source where it will be exposed to direct sunlight. This also applies to water pipes or pipes leading to the water source. The sun can heat the water line to the point where the water temperature is too high to drink. On extremely hot days, it is not uncommon for water to exceed 85 degrees Fahrenheit in water sources. In colder climates, bury the waterline 3 to 5 feet below the surface to ensure it does not freeze.

Since the average drinking rate of an adult horse is 3.5 to 7 liters per minute, Parker recommends using an automatic watering or refilling system. The water injection rate of the system allows the horse to drink the water it needs without emptying it. This story requires a subscription to The Horse Magazine. Current magazine subscribers can click here to log in and continue reading. Remember my username or email address and password. I subscribe now for $1.25 per month to have unlimited access to high-quality content. The fee is $15 per year* Subscribe Now The Horse is committed to providing you with the latest and most reliable news and information about the health, care, management and welfare of horses through our magazine and TheHorse.com. Our explanatory news provides easy-to-understand resources for important and sometimes complex health issues. Your subscription will help The Horse continue to provide this important resource to horse owners of all breeds, disciplines, and experience levels. *Discounted subscription rate applies to delivery to US addresses or digital delivery. One year (12 issues) subscription, a one-time payment of $15. For print delivery rates outside the U.S., please click here.

Current magazine subscribers can click here to log in and continue reading.

We at The Horse are committed to providing you with the latest and most reliable news and information about the health, care, management and welfare of horses through our magazine and TheHorse.com. Our explanatory news provides easy-to-understand resources for important and sometimes complex health issues. Your subscription will help The Horse continue to provide this important resource to horse owners of all breeds, disciplines, and experience levels.

*Discounted subscription rate applies to delivery to US addresses or digital delivery. One year (12 issues) subscription, a one-time payment of $15. For print delivery rates outside the U.S., please click here.

Dr. Debra Powell, PAS, is the horse project leader at Hawking College in Nelsonville, Ohio. She also owns and operates a mobile business that specializes in providing non-invasive therapies and nutrition consultations for dogs and horses.

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