Water

Water is essential for life and is involved in all cell functions. A horse can survive several days without feed, but only a short time without water. About a third of a horse’s total body weight consists of water, distributed in cells, blood, lymph, gut, etc. A horse drinks 30 to 50 litres a day. The actual amount depends on outdoor temperature, feed, workload and the type of horse. Fresh water should always be available. Slow-flowing nose-paddle drinkers often fail to cover water requirements. The cleanliness of the drinker should be checked daily.