You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink! Today’s episode is all about keeping your horse fed and watered while out on the trail. Heather stops by a local feed store to talk about what you can take with you while out of the trail to make sure your horse is well looked after. There are lots of simple tricks you can use to ensure that you keep your horse hydrated while out on the trail. We have all heard the saying “you can lead a horse to water” but why don’t they want to drink? How much should they drink? How can I make them drink? We share some tips on how to make away water taste like home water. Some simple planning will make your t5rail riding trip even better. So when you find yourself saying “you can lead a horse to water” now you know how to make them drink! Don’t forget to share the podcast so your friends won’t miss out.
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You can lead a horse to water – Flavouring
Adding a supplement or flavouring your water can go a long way when getting your horse to drink when your away. By adding flavouring at home your horse shouldn’t be able to tell the difference when you are offering water that is different from your home tap. Something as simple as a cup of apple juice will do the trick! You can buy electrolytes to add to the water as another option to maximize hydration. Offering water whenever the opportunity presents itself will help you keep your equine friend hydrated.
You can lead a horse to water – Feed
Another option to add extra hydration for your equine partner is to wet their hay. Using the formula of 2 parts feed to 1 part water that well help the water intake. Ensuring that you are providing enough sustenance will be key to your overall success. An hungry horse can be an angry horse. Packing enough hay and providing grazing opportunities are very important. It’s always a good idea to have supplement or hay extender with you if grazing opportunities are limited.
You can lead a horse to water – How much do they need?
Lots of factors come into play when it comes to the amount of food and water your horse will need while you are away. You need to take into consideration, Time away, distance you will be travelling, the degree of difficulty the ride will be, what will the temperature be like and the physical fitness level of your horse to name a few. Some horses generally need more than others however planning to alway have extra is a good idea. Horses can drink as little as 6 gallons a day some drink 3 or 4 times that depending on how hard they are working. Hydration is the number 1 element you must consider.
You can lead a horse to water – Overall Health
Knowing your horses overall well being will be the best indicator you can have when it comes to having a healthy successful ride. Understanding what your horses normal vital statistics are will be important if you notice unusual behaviour. Having a small first aid kit with you while on the trail with a thermometer will provide with with a quick tool to check temperature.
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Heather (Canada)
Don’t forget to check out the resources section in this article!
Highlights
- Tricks to make away water taste like home water.
- Hay extenders and supplements
- Salt on a rope
Thank you for tuning in and happy trails!
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Resources
- Keeping your Horse Hydrated on the road
- Horse riding every country
- Equestrian tools and resources
- EQA Online Shop
Thanks for listening to our horse podcast: You can lead a Horse to Water…
