ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] water drinking
[endurance] water drinking
Kathy Crothers (KC85124@UAFSYSA.UARK.EDU)
Tue, 07 May 96 23:00:11 CDT
Help!! I have ridden endurance for over 5 yrs. now and have logged over 3,000
miles including qualifying my horse for the R0C and I haven't figured out yet
how to get my horses to drink much after the ride and on trailer trips to and
from the ride. I have ridden 4 different horses who all are all related.
I started my stallion on NATRC rides and he wouldn't drink well after even a
slow novice ride. His 3 sons are the same way. It doesn't matter how slow or
how fast I do a ride they don't drink well in camp. They usually drink very
well on the trail after the 1st loop. I used to ride them out on trail when
I got to the ride and find water on the trail so they would get a good drink
before being tied to the trailer. Now I have a safety pen from Custom Iron
Workers so they usually like to drink out of the large bucket in their pen.
But they still won't drink after the ride unless I put some oats in water then
it is just to eat the oats. I bring enough water from home for the ride and
put fresh water in the bucket after the ride. I've tried using the water in
camp and also putting molasses in the water but it doesn't seem to make a
difference. They will graze some, eat their wet oats and I feed them grass
every time I stop on the way home if I can find it so they usually do ok.
They tank up at their tank the minute the are turned loose after a ride.
I haul at least one day a week to condition so they are used to being away
from home and hauled. They will drink better if they go with a buddy but
my friend who sometimes goes with me moved so that is no longer an option.
And going to the ride with another horse causes other problems. If anyone
has any suggestions I would appreciate the input. Kathy Crothers in
Fayetteville,Arkansas currently riding Rebels Foxfire and Rebels Traveler
kc85124@uafsysa.uark.edu