Without water, nothing in your horse's body will function. Horses will often reduce their water intake as temperatures fall. This reduced water intake, combined with increased forage consumption, can lead to a greater incidence of impaction and colic. Ideally, water should be warmed so that the horse will consume adequate amounts. Water should be available at all times. Water should be maintained between 45 and 65 degrees F and any ice crystals should be removed. If you are in an area that has regular freezing, check the water supply twice daily as horses will drink eight to twelve gallons a day.
A basketball or soccer ball floating in the water trough will keep it from completely freezing over. To help prevent freeze up in the water trough, place it in the sunniest spot available, and bank dirt around its' sides to help insulate it. You might want to try covering part of the top with plywood, leaving a small area free for drinking. However, if you get very hard freezes, you may want to invest in one of the various water heaters that are on the market. If you use float heaters, automatic waterers, or heated water buckets, be sure to check them to insure the heater is not shorting out and shocking the water. Allow plenty of space between water tanks and fences. If the whole herd drinks at the same time, there's often some scuffling and butting around the tank, and horses might be pushed through the fence.
Some people believe horses can get by on snow. "Get by" they might, but horses require a lot of water to digest dry feed. Forcing a horse to produce moisture by eating snow is counterproductive. Six times as much snow must be eaten to provide an equal amount of water. Furthermore, calories are used to melt the snow that should be used for body warmth.
Whenever possible, offer your horse warm water at a temperature of about 45-65 F. Studies have repeatedly demonstrated that a horse's water intake in winter increases dramatically if he has access to warm water. Recent research has shown a 40 percent increase in water intake when horses are offered warm water on wintery days.
Want to check out a few more winter horse care facts, go to this link to see more..... http://www.gaitedhorses.net/Articles/WinterCare.html#water
Happy Riding...........
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