Oh I know your problem - sort of, -
have a new horse that just was not sure about 'that big blue thing'
floating in the water trough ( water heater); though, he probably
would have figured it out since he likes to eat salt, that's another story -
anyone with any suggestions to that eml me, - ?? he has
a problem I need to check, or just ... ? he hadn't had any free choice salt
in a while. Plus, had heater go 'ballistic' and heat
water to bath water temp, but horses quickly, got over, in
fact they may have liked that for the day, being it was below
freezing; sort of like having 'hot tea' . Told them I could not afford it , and
they did not 'earn' keep, that much, so......that luxery they would not
get.
You say placing buckets by trough has not gotten
them to tank, even when depleted buckets, and they see other horses drinking
there? What about placing buckets in tank. ?
What I did was stand out with him, with
'treats', I knew he liked ! ; and place them almost on water, he had to
touch water to get it.... he was drinking from trough from that day on, -
but he still prefers buckets. But will drink from trough /
tank. Adequately.
But, now , having 'problem'. with
own water trough heater, different one, - keeps tripping breaker, no
problem with socket ( replaced it ) , breaker, or GFI. - figure heater,
itself, defective, wish, could get one that worked more than one season, but at
least has 3 yr warrenty. And I have a back up. Good thing; calling
for <15f tonight.
On another site there has been
conversation about using 1/2 hp pumps to circulate water, rather than heaters,
would work, especially with larger troughs, > 50 gallons; Probably less
than 150 gal. you just have to keep intake clean.
Also, placing copper wire from inside trough
to grounding rod, buried outside trough to eliminate
'microshocks'. But, you know that. Stephanie M -
Do believe in theory you can a
lead horse to water, but can not make them drink, -- but if they are thirsty -
they will drink wherever., or learn to. Please save post about heated
water being better, we all know that, and ... any horse can be 'spoiled'
to only drink from... true,...... and, yes, I , too, have
have had one that liked to "play camel" on rides, but that to is another story,.
