Water Drinkers

How often should a drinker be cleaned?

Horses can drink up to 60 litres of water per day, and even more under stress and high external temperatures. Horses also require quality drinking water, as contaminated water can have health effects. Therefore, it is best to check their drinkers, tubs and buckets daily for contamination and remove any feed residue, bird droppings, etc. with a sponge if necessary.

Drinkers are often also used by birds as a source of water, and their droppings can end up in the water. Earthworms, flies and other insects also sometimes end up in the drinker. Furthermore, many horses rinse their mouths after feeding, and softened feed residue can collect at the bottom.

In general, automatic drinkers with a pressure valve, with which the horse only refills water as needed, are preferable to standing water. If tubs and buckets filled with water or ball drinkers are left without regular water exchange at high temperatures, blue-green algae will form. These can release toxins and cause a scaly, dull coat, faecal water syndrome and colic. If using an automatic drinker is not possible, you should completely empty tubs, buckets, etc. at least once a week, clean them with a sponge and refill them to avoid such contamination.

The cleanliness of automatic drinkers is part of stable hygiene. Further information on stable hygiene can be found in our guide on this topic.

Which drinker is suitable for which stable?

In the equestrian world, there are various types of drinkers for horses:

• Float valve drinkers
• Ball drinkers
• Automatic drinkers with a pressure tube valve
• Automatic drinkers with a pressure tongue
• Heated automatic drinkers
• Field drinkers

Then there are automatic drinkers with a pressure tube valve or a pressure tongue. Here, the horse must press a valve in the drinker for water to flow. When the horse releases the pressure, the valve closes and the flow stops. Pressure tube valves require less pressure to operate than pressure tongues, which are wider in design.

To ensure horses have access to fresh water at all times during winter, heated automatic drinkers are recommended, especially outside. Remember that pipes should also be sealed to prevent water from freezing on its way to the automatic drinker.

Horse pastures near stables are often connected to the stable's water supply system, allowing animals to access drinking water through automatic drinkers. Alternatively, a mobile water barrell with an automatic drinker can be placed in the field. Other establishments use field drinkers, where water is pumped upwards from the depths by the animals.

In our online shop, you can purchase high-quality automatic drinkers with smooth-running pressure tube valves. Our heated automatic drinkers from SHOWMASTER make your work easier in winter and keep your horses' drinking water accessible. Our range of automatic drinkers is complemented by accessories and spare parts such as heating cables, replacement valves, and float valves. An automatic drinker guard shields the automatic drinker from hoof strikes and is a useful addition to stable and paddock equipment.