# You can lead a horse to water **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146 "2016-12-19T16:56:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/1 "2016-12-19T16:56:14Z")
Any suggestions on how to make a horse drink? Backstory: Every winter, despite heat-tape, insulation, and the last few remaining 100 Watt incandescent bulbs, our barn water will freeze for a few days/weeks when temps drop below 10F. When this happens, we carry 5 gallon buckets of water from the house. My gf’s horse drinks a little less than 5 gallons a day (from a heated bucket). Not a huge deal, except for time we are vacationing and our house/pet-sitter needs to lug the water. This year, in order to make things easier, we bought a 100 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank. I installed an electric heater in the tank, filled it, and now the water problem is fixed. _But_ , my gf wants to see Jake drink from the stock tank. Yesterday we took away his water bucket and locked him in his stall. I gave him a salt block. Every few hours she walked the horse up top the stock tank but she hasn’t been able to make him drink. He is not afraid of the tank. She splashed the surface of the water around. But he just won’t give her the satisfaction of drinking. TL/DR: How do you make a horse drink? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/2 "2016-12-19T17:03:05Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > TL/DR: How do you make a horse drink? 1 part horse, 2 parts vermouth, a splash of vodka, and a really big blender. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/3 "2016-12-19T17:09:09Z")
Try putting apple juice in the water. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/4 "2016-12-19T17:15:25Z")
Have you tried offering him a drinking straw? ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/5 "2016-12-19T17:51:43Z")
Give it time - if he gets thirsty enough, he will find the water! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/6 "2016-12-19T18:49:58Z")
Remember the old maxim: A watched horse never drinks. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/7 "2016-12-19T19:01:52Z")
I’m not a horse owner, but is he peeing? If he’s peeing, you don’t have to watch him drink. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/8 "2016-12-19T19:06:37Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I’m not a horse owner, but is he peeing? If he’s peeing, you don’t have to watch him drink. It beats having to watch him pee. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/9 "2016-12-19T19:13:03Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > Give it time - if he gets thirsty enough, he will find the water! That was my first suggestion, but gf wants to verify he is drinking _from the stock tank_. There is enough snow on the ground and puddles in the pasture from underground springs and such, so he might stay hydrated despite not drinking in the barn. I was initially concerned about stray voltage from the heating unit. I used my multi-meter and think I’ve ruled that out. Additionally, when I told my gf I’d tested the water for stray voltage problems, she pointed out that she’d stuck her hand in the water and didn’t feel anything. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/10 "2016-12-19T19:19:33Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > Try putting apple juice in the water. I’ve heard that. I can see dumping a cup of juice into his five gallon bucket, but how adding it to a 100 gallon tank is a problem. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/11 "2016-12-19T19:20:37Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I’ve heard that. I can see dumping a cup of juice into his five gallon bucket, but how adding it to a 100 gallon tank is a problem. Use a bigger cup. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/12 "2016-12-20T05:37:27Z")
If he’s still peeing, and not showing any of the signs of dehydration, then he’s getting enough water. Whether he’s getting it from his bucket, or the stock tank, or puddles in the pasture, or even eating snow – he’s getting enough fluids. Stop worrying about it! And tell your girlfriend to stop worrying about it. If she can’t, then … find a smarter girlfriend. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/13 "2016-12-20T15:10:42Z")
Toss some apple slices into the tank. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/14 "2016-12-20T15:24:36Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > Toss some apple slices into the tank. Will give that a try. Sounds like it would work! > [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > And tell your girlfriend to stop worrying about it. If she can’t, then … find a smarter girlfriend. Her horses live forever, setting records for health and longevity. She’s also the smartest woman I’ve ever known. ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/15 "2016-12-20T15:49:58Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > …I was initially concerned about stray voltage from the heating unit. I used my multi-meter and think I’ve ruled that out. Additionally, when I told my gf I’d tested the water for stray voltage problems, she pointed out that she’d stuck her hand in the water and didn’t feel anything. That is a double trouble situation. Actually everything electrical in barn should be on a GFCI [Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter] - like the outlets in bathrooms with the Test and Reset buttons. (In other countries called an “RCD”.) That would protect your animals from electrocution, but could also trip off due to just a tiny amount of leaking electricity, then the water would freeze and your horse would not have any water! So better protection from electrical malfunctions, but also you need to check the electricity is on every day. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/16 "2016-12-20T16:03:32Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > …gf wants to verify he is drinking _from the stock tank_. I’m quite curious as to why. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/17 "2016-12-20T16:53:44Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > I’m quite curious as to why. The scenario she wants to avoid is: We are on a two week vacation. The house/pet-sitter feeds the horse and fills his water bucket daily. Then the temperature drops to -5 F and the barn hose is frozen. No problem, there’s the stock-tank for him to drink from. If he doesn’t drink from the stock tank, and the pasture has no water (surface water freezes), the horse becomes moderately dehydrated. Dehydration in horses predisposes them to other problems (constipation and colic). We return from vacation to a sick/dying/dead horse. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/18 "2016-12-20T16:56:57Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > That is a double trouble situation. Actually everything electrical in barn should be on a GFCI [Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter] - like the outlets in bathrooms with the Test and Reset buttons. (In other countries called an “RCD”.) > > That would protect your animals from electrocution, but could also trip off due to just a tiny amount of leaking electricity, then the water would freeze and your horse would not have any water! > > So better protection from electrical malfunctions, but also you need to check the electricity is on every day. Many of the outlets in our barn are GFCI. In fact, last year I had an issue with the heat tape on the water line failing (I thought). I dug down and removed the old heat tape and replaced it only to find the problem was actually that the GFCI outlet had failed. It was easy to replace, but I wish I’d checked that before digging up the water line. I would like the stock tank’s water heater to be plugged into a GFCI outlet, but there is only one outlet near the tank and it is not GFCI. ---
**Author:** ![JcWoman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jcwoman/32/2889_2.png) [@JcWoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JcWoman)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/19 "2016-12-20T18:05:02Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The scenario she wants to avoid is: > > We are on a two week vacation. The house/pet-sitter feeds the horse and fills his water bucket daily. Then the temperature drops to -5 F and the barn hose is frozen. No problem, there’s the stock-tank for him to drink from. > > If he doesn’t drink from the stock tank, and the pasture has no water (surface water freezes), the horse becomes moderately dehydrated. Dehydration in horses predisposes them to other problems (constipation and colic). We return from vacation to a sick/dying/dead horse. If all other water is unavailable to him in this situation, won’t he drink what IS available, i.e. the stock tank? Or, to put it bluntly, are horses so stupid that they won’t drink when there’s water right there for them? I kind of think she’s pondering some odd worst case scenarios. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2016, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146/20 "2016-12-20T18:33:46Z")
> [@JcWoman](#): > > If all other water is unavailable to him in this situation, won’t he drink what IS available, i.e. the stock tank? Or, to put it bluntly, are horses so stupid that they won’t drink when there’s water right there for them? I kind of think she’s pondering some odd worst case scenarios. Yes, horses can be that stupid. People who trailer their horses to competitions will often bring water from home, and the bucket from their horse’s stall so that a picky horse will drink. Subtle changes in temperature, pH, and dissolved solids can cause a horse to refuse water or drink less. The concern isn’t that the horse will die from dehydration, but rather that the horse will be mildly to moderately dehydrated and then colic secondarily. Apparently this is “a thing”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-lead-a-horse-to-water/775146.md?page=2)