Waterers

Joshie · #1 01/30/10, 07:34 PM

What type of waterer do you use? We have two geldings and are trying to decide what type of waterer is best. We can get a 45 gallon tub that contains a heater. We can also get a larger tub... 60-100 gallons and use a drop in heater. Those drop in heaters use much more electricity than the heated buckets but they're also much bigger tanks. The idea of a larger tank is nice as you don't have to fill it nearly as often.

As I mentioned we have two geldings. In the next year or two, if my health improves, we'd like to get a horse for me.

Countrystyle · #2 01/31/10, 08:01 AM

We have 2 60-100 gals (never have looked) tanks. One rubber and one metal. Added a second drop in heater this winter. One for each pasture. One is at the spigot and the other we run a hose about 25-30'. We only have to top them off every couple of days.

lamoncha lover · #3 01/31/10, 09:40 AM

back when we had extra money I got a bar bar horse waterer. They are a bit pricey (around450.00 i think)It sat on my carport for several years and I just had it installed this fall(another 500)
But I love it. It takes no electricity, has constant clean water, no algae, no bugs. No freezing. It took the one horse about 15 minutes to figure it out..the other had it figured out in a day.
No hose..no scrubbing tanks, no breaking ice...and no electric needed. I highly reccomend it.

Minelson · #4 01/31/10, 11:10 AM

This is what I use and it works out great for us. We have 2 geldings. I top it off in the morning and at night. I like it because it is easy to move out of the loafing shed and dump. I do that maybe every 3 days or so...It keeps the water warm....not just unfrozen and it seems like they drink more because of that. I have had mine for 3 winters now and it's still working great. I keep it in the loafing shed, out of the wind and near the hydrant.
http://www.horse.com/16-Gallon-Heated-Tub-BEW15.html

DoubleBee · #5 01/31/10, 05:50 PM

We have a 50 gallon stock tank and use a drop in heater. It does get pricey over the winter, but better than trying to deal with frozen water.

I wouldn't want much over a 50 gallon tank because it would be harder to clean out when it gets algae in it. I drain it, but tip it on its side so I can scrub it and rinse it out. jmo

chewie · #6 01/31/10, 10:28 PM

my mom has just installed one of those post type waterers, and i'll be doing so when i can. i think lamoncha lover's is this type? it sounds great.

Joshie · #7 01/31/10, 10:58 PM

How does the Bar Bar A waterer work?

lamoncha lover · #8 02/01/10, 04:28 PM

There is really good info online..think just type in bar bar waterer,
basically it is connested to the water line..underground..has a paddle the horses push in the bowl for water and leftover water drains out into the ground and into gravel. I am so far greatly impressed. No mess no fuss

Jay27 · #9 02/02/10, 08:46 AM

I have a 500 gallon round poly tank in a round bale feeder. My goofy drafts USED TO climb in the tank, which resulted in a new tank every couple months. The round bale feeder solved that. In the winter I have a bubbler and two 1500W heaters to keep it thawed. (1 heater is wind powered and runs most of the time - the one that is AC powered barely runs). The space between the tank and feeder gets stuffed with straw and we put an insulated cover over half of it. There are a dozen koi that live in the tank year round. They eat the algae and whatever falls out of the horses mouths. (The fish actually nibble the horses lips... I think the horses like it because they put their face in the water to let the fish nibble). I think, the bigger the tank, the better! Critters should never run out of water so if filling the tank is an issue, it is best to store as much water as possible. Also, if freezing is an issue, it is easier to keep lots of water liquid. My tank freezes over easier when it is half-full than when it if totally full.

My favorite thing about my tank is the koi. I don't think I could pull that off in a smaller tank. I like to watch the koi even though they hate me and like the horses... which ticks me off because my neighbor's fish are always super happy to see him. It is super hilarious to watch the koi groom the horses lips... even funnier to watch my big gelding stick his face in the water up to his eyeballs!

GrannyCarol · #10 02/02/10, 09:46 AM

We have a large Rubbermaid horse tub with a built in heater. It works great, though it's a pain to fill in the winter, because its about 100' from a water spigot. We often haul water in 5 gal buckets when its cold.

Joshie · #11 02/02/10, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamoncha lover

There is really good info online..think just type in bar bar waterer,
basically it is connested to the water line..underground..has a paddle the horses push in the bowl for water and leftover water drains out into the ground and into gravel. I am so far greatly impressed. No mess no fuss

I looked at it online but didn't understand how it worked. Sounds cool but way over our budget.

Jay27 · #12 02/02/10, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrannyCarol

We have a large Rubbermaid horse tub with a built in heater. It works great, though it's a pain to fill in the winter, because its about 100' from a water spigot. We often haul water in 5 gal buckets when its cold.

We leave the hose out all winter. We use the air compressor to blow all the water out of hose after each use. Works great!

GrannyCarol · #13 02/02/10, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay27

We leave the hose out all winter. We use the air compressor to blow all the water out of hose after each use. Works great!

Yes, I'll bet it would. Unfortunately, we don't keep Star at home, she's a few blocks away. We don't have convenient access to the air compressor, but I'll keep that in mind if our situation ever changes!

Even the frost proof spigot we use freezes up when its below zero for a few days in any case.

lamoncha lover · #14 02/02/10, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshie

I looked at it online but didn't understand how it worked. Sounds cool but way over our budget.

LOL its way over my budget now as well. Oh for the days of having cash:>)

arabian knight · #15 02/02/10, 05:21 PM

The winter time I use 16 gallon Heated Water Buckets. Those are Fantastic~!!!! And only use 275 watts so the electric bill does hardly goes up at all.
In the summer months I use 50 gallon poly tanks, they clean out great and are large enough that I do not have fill or wash them out but say once a week or having just one mini 2 to 3 weeks at least.

Joshie · #16 02/02/10, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabian knight

The winter time I use 16 gallon Heated Water Buckets. Those are Fantastic~!!!! And only use 275 watts so the electric bill does hardly goes up at all.
In the summer months I use 50 gallon poly tanks, they clean out great and are large enough that I do not have fill or wash them out but say once a week or having just one mini 2 to 3 weeks at least.

Do you have any problems with the horses knocking over those 16 gallon buckets? I'm concerned about the boys deciding to play kick the bucket all over the dry lot.