Healthy horse? Don't forget water quality! The advice and information platform for all horse and dog enthusiasts.

Horses drink an average of about 30 liters of water per day, and in warm periods this can even increase to 50 liters per day. Water therefore makes up a large part of the horse's total nutrition. Be critical about the water you provide to your horse. If a horse drinks too little, various problems can arise. It can develop stomach problems, dry manure, or even eat too little. If a horse doesn't consume enough water, it also has a negative impact on its athletic performance. Therefore, your horse should not find its water dirty. It should not taste weird. There are three requirements for drinking water for horses:

Palatability - horses should enjoy drinking it.
Fresh and freely available - drinking water should always be available for horses.
Safety - no bacteria or elevated mineral levels such as iron or ammonia.

Below, we will delve deeper into the three requirements for healthy drinking water for horses.

1. Is the water tasty?

Salt, iron, and calcium in water can affect palatability. Many horses drink groundwater, pumped from the soil. If the water has high hardness (lots of calcium), tastes salty, or contains a lot of iron, horses won't find it tasty. Ammonia in the water also tastes bad. A horse that drinks less will also eat less. Be cautious with rainwater if it is left standing for a long time, as algae may form or contain insect eggs.

2. Is the water fresh and freely available?

Ensure that your horse can always drink when it wants to and is never without water for an extended period. The drinking trough should be clean, and drinking nipples should work correctly. A high level of iron or manganese in the water can result in clogged pipes. Regularly check if the drinking troughs flow correctly. Ensure an adequate water supply for an entire day during warm periods, as the amount of water a horse drinks can even double. If you use automatic water troughs, check them regularly to ensure they are functioning well.

3. Is the water safe?

Your horse should be able to drink the water safely. There should be no contaminants present. These can be pathogens such as bacteria or an excess of certain minerals or trace elements. In some cases, water may be contaminated with toxic substances. Especially nitrite and ammonium in the water can lead to rapid bacterial growth. Too much iron in the water can cause liver problems in the long term. Color and smell do indicate something about the quality, but even clear water can be contaminated. Did you know that you can easily test your water? Simple water tests from the Animal Health Service are available for purchase at stores such as Welkoop and Boerenbond. These are three tests: test tube test, ditch test, and strip test. These tests will check the color, smell, clarity, sediment, acidity, nitrite, and nitrate levels.

Tips for horse drinking water:

Horses prefer water in large troughs, as they drink more from them.
Horses prefer still water over automatic water troughs.
Keep large water troughs free from manure and dead animals (frogs, mice, etc.).
Regularly flush piping systems, keeping the water moving is the best way to prevent contamination.
If you doubt the water quality, do a test.
Horses like cold water but will drink more if it's warmer, especially if it tastes good (add a splash of sugar-free electrolytes).
In cold weather, horses often drink less, here warm water with some palatable electrolytes can help. Consider making a mash with extra water to provide adequate hydration to the horse. Ideally, use as few grains as possible, such as those from Vitalbix or Agrobs.
Clean water troughs regularly to remove sand, algae, and other dirt from them.
Replace the water daily to prevent contamination.
Provide your horse with options by setting up different water troughs with always fresh water and extra troughs with, for example, liquid nettle, liquid minerals, and salt.