How Cold Is It?

[doll0608]

Originally Posted by Riot

Cherie, do the water buckets in the barn freeze overnight, or do they stay warm enough with the body heat?

They do freeze. Feed time they change the water in the buckets and then late we have a groom just walk down the shed row to make sure they have water available. We have to make sure they have water available because if they don't drink enough water they can get impacted and colic. Nothing is more fun than a sick horse that needs tending to in the freezing weather.

[Rileyoriley]

Originally Posted by doll0608

They do freeze. Feed time they change the water in the buckets and then late we have a groom just walk down the shed row to make sure they have water available. We have to make sure they have water available because if they don't drink enough water they can get impacted and colic. Nothing is more fun than a sick horse that needs tending to in the freezing weather.

No heated water buckets?

[doll0608]

Originally Posted by Rileyoriley

No heated water buckets?

We don't have them. Just the lucky groom that gets to change the buckets.

[Danzig]

was just reading yesterday how this time of year produces dehydrated and colicky horses due to water freezing...

[Rileyoriley]

Originally Posted by Danzig

was just reading yesterday how this time of year produces dehydrated and colicky horses due to water freezing...

We've treated 3 colics so far this week. Had to send one to Tufts.

[Danzig]

and it's cold here as well. 16 tonite-rare for south ark. but that's nothing compared to what some are seeing.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by Danzig

was just reading yesterday how this time of year produces dehydrated and colicky horses due to water freezing...

You bet, huge increase in impaction colics at the local clinics come the first cold weather snap. Best to heat the water a bit, gets horses to drink more.

[Rileyoriley]

Originally Posted by doll0608

We don't have them. Just the lucky groom that gets to change the buckets.

How many horses are there? Would the barn let you use them or sees them as a fire hazard?( I'm talking about the buckets with the heater built in so the horse can't play with it.)

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by Rileyoriley

How many horses are there? Would the barn let you use them or sees them as a fire hazard?( I'm talking about the buckets with the heater built in so the horse can't play with it.)

I just wouldn't ever sleep well at night knowing bucket heaters were on in the barn....maybe I'm just paranoid, because I kow the newer ones are pretty well made but to me they just scream "I want to catch on fire while you are sound asleep!"

[Rileyoriley]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

I just wouldn't ever sleep well at night knowing bucket heaters were on in the barn....maybe I'm just paranoid, because I kow the newer ones are pretty well made but to me they just scream "I want to catch on fire while you are sound asleep!"

I understand.

[jwkniska]

never even got to 0 today. down to -15 tonight.

[Riot]

I agree about the bucket heaters (I hate automatic waterers in stalls btw, too, but because you can't tell how much they are drinking) We used to go through three or four times day and add hot water to the buckets. The horses loved it, and indeed would slurp that warm water down, they grew to look forward to it.

[Riot]

Originally Posted by doll0608

They do freeze. Feed time they change the water in the buckets and then late we have a groom just walk down the shed row to make sure they have water available. .

Well, at least the fresh air exchange is good for the horses. Sorry the barns are that cold, though!