Not allowing 2 buckets in stalls....

[CaseysWhiskey]

What if the BO won't hang 2 buckets in horses stalls that tend to drink a full bucket everynight? This was asked and she said, they have pleanty of time to drink outside from the automatic waters. So this will make them learn to drink outside and save the water inside.

What do you say to that?

[PinkPonies]

I would say "here is my 30 days notice."

That is ridiculous - I would not settle for anything less then my horse having two full buckets every night. Horses do not "learn" when to drink - they just drink when they feel like it.

[ChocoMare]

..., they have pleanty of time to drink outside from the automatic waters. So this will make them learn to drink outside and save the water inside.

What do you say to that?

BWAHAHAHAHA :lol:

Oh my. That's a good one.

THEY'RE HORSES LADY, NOT CHILDREN!!!!

Either they hang a second bucket, you place a muck tub full o'water yourself or hand in your notice.

[kellyb]

Wow. I'd be gone.

[EqTrainer]

What if the BO won't hang 2 buckets in horses stalls that tend to drink a full bucket everynight? This was asked and she said, they have pleanty of time to drink outside from the automatic waters. So this will make them learn to drink outside and save the water inside.

What do you say to that?

I would hope that your notice would make her learn to not be such a ninny. Then again, not having two buckets won't teach your horse to drink outside and leaving probably won't teach her anything, either.

[MacknCody]

Gee, can we say lazy? Are there automatic waterers inside the stalls also? And maybe they just don't want to screw with filling buckets up at all?

Weird.

[jn4jenny]

If a barn owner made a non-negotiable care statement that was not in line with my personal preferences, I'd be handing in my 30 days' notice. That said, let's examine the issue more thoroughly before jumping the gun.

In the wild, horses most certainly do NOT have access to water 24/7, yet they get along just fine most of the time--their bodies are built for it. Yes we'd all like our precious darlings to have endless supplies of water 24/7, and yes it's important for horses to have access to clean fresh water most of the time. But does your horse die if you go on a two-hour trailer ride and he can't drink? Does he die if you're at a show and he only gets to drink half a bucket every three hours? I'm guessing not. And it is an enormous PITA to be dumping and scrubbing a second, full water bucket every day or week just because a paranoid owner wants Dobbin to have water that he may or may not be drinking.

In short, provided the horse is only without water for a few hours, this may not be the end of the universe.

If it were my horse, my suggestion to the BO would be to hang an additional half full bucket for a trial period (maybe 2 weeks) to see if the horse does in fact drink more than one full bucket overnight. Offer to clean and dump this half-filled bucket yourself during the trial period. If the horse drinks the extra water, then the BO may agree to let you have two buckets. If he doesn't drink the water, then you know it was your own paranoia.

[Just Wondering]

Yeah jenny! A person who thinks prior to typing.

When we switched from tanks to the automatic waters in the turnouts - the barn buckets were not emptied as they previously had been. The horses prefer the fresh water.

It is not out of line for the BO to say the horse will learn. THEY DO!

[purplnurpl]

Yeah jenny! were not emptied as they previously had been. The horses prefer the fresh water.

It is not out of line for the BO to say the horse will learn. THEY DO!

I hope this is tongue and cheek.

So what if a horse does prefer fresh water but still empties it's single bucket at night?
I know that my horse loves the well water and would drink more in his stall if it were well water...but he still empties 3/4 of a bucket after dinner between the hours of 7pm and 10pm.


30 days notice. Outta there.
oh, maybe if the BO didn't provide hay at night the horses wouldn't need to drink so much either....?

the body becomes thristy when it is in need of fluids. It's how we keep homeostasis.
Next time you wake up at night really really thristy tell yourself that you have to wait for the fresh water that will be available in 6-8 hours.

[Chief2]

I provide my own buckets, dump, clean and refill them each morning, and refill them myself each night. No one ever complains about them because they don't have to handle them. With the cold and ice factor weighing in, that could be what is at the bottom of it. If you can do more toward taking care of your own buckets, the complaints will probably disappear. If not, start shopping. I boarded in a barn that allowed only one bucket, provided no water in the turnouts, and only filled the bucket once in the morning (when they were already out) and again at night, even on days that went into the 104 degree range. The horse dying of dehydration colic was not a pretty sight. After seeing that, the buckets stay, or we leave.

[dkcbr]

My knee-jerk reaction is "I'm outta here" - but there are some mitigating circumstances to consider, first. Is this just during winter when a second bucket possibly freezes solid and is a huge PITA to de-ice? How long are the horses inside vs. outside? And how late is the last barn check to refill the one water bucket?

[Just Wondering]

I hope this is tongue and cheek.

So what if a horse does prefer fresh water but still empties it's single bucket at night?
I know that my horse loves the well water and would drink more in his stall if it were well water...but he still empties 3/4 of a bucket after dinner between the hours of 7pm and 10pm.



It's not.

IF the horse were to empty the bucket fine. As I stated - ours no longer do. The majority do not even sip out of the bucket.

[dkcbr]

I provide my own buckets, dump, clean and refill them each morning, and refill them myself each night.

I do exactly the same thing! :yes: At one of my boarding barns, the water is drained and turned off so I bring my own water from home for my own little "night check." :) And I actually bring icy buckets back to my house for thawing overnight (no heat at the barn).

Mgmt is fine with my two buckets, because they don't have to deal with both. :yes:

[molliwog]

I think it depends on the turnout situation. I'd be more concerned about a barn manager who thinks of something like this as an absolute and isn't open to a discussion about what is best for the individual horse.

If the horses are outside with access to the automatic waterers 14-16 hours a day, I think that a single bucket for a few hours would be ample, provided the horse isn't a "dunker", or that the bucket isn't always bone dry in the morning. However, if the horse routinely dunks their hay, a couple of buckets are probably in order. Also, if the horse is reluctant to drink from the automatic waterers in his turnout and prefers the buckets in his stall, I would want to investigate why. Normally, horses will prefer water from a fresher source like a waterer or flowing stream, rather than from a stagnant one like a bucket or a puddle. We once had a strand of hotwire installed just a little to close to a waterer, and it took us a couple of days to figure out that the horses weren't drinking because they got a little shock if they touched the float mechanism at the top of the tank while they drank.


Also, horses absolutely WILL learn to drink at the time water is presented to them when a source is not always available in their stable or pasture area. I've had numerous opportunities to observe this behaviour when I grew up on a working ranch. I am NOT saying that this is ideal, nor am I advocating this approach when the alternative of providing fresh, clean water 24/7 is available. If it's possible to have fresh water available at all times, this is certainly the best practice.

One of my father's jobs as a young boy in the 1920's was to lead the horses to water at regular intervals. It was more practical to take the horses to the water source (he'd ride one and pony the other 3), particularly in the winter time. Once the horses learned the schedule, they drank. Since my father's family was financially dependant on the welfare of their two teams, I can guarantee that the most careful attention was given to the health of these horses. My father's recollection was that their draft and ranch horses often remained sound, healthy, and working well into their 20's- and this is quite a contrast from what we often see to day. (My dad often shakes his head at the horse husbandry practices of show folks and large stables-large amounts of grain and processed feed with no forage, but that's entirely another topic for a different thread.)

I also know that it was quite easy to teach our working ranch horses when it was time to drink. In dryer years or during extreme cold, each of our pastures did not always have a readily available fresh water source. Both horses and cattle learned to recoginize the water truck when it headed their way a couple of times a day. There were also prolonged cold spells when keeping water buckets or stock tanks in the barn area was absolutely impractical- at -20 F, they freeze solid in a matter of minutes. Rather than giving the horse a big popsicle in their barn so that we would feel better, we simply led the horses to a freshwater spring that ran regardless of temperature 2 or 3 times a day for a drink so that they actually got water.

[thumbsontop]

I think I'd probably be looking at giving notice, but because any BO that gives mandates like that would worry me.

As for the water, I have 2 buckets in the stalls for a couple of mine. No one completely empties two buckets - maybe a bucket and a half. If they are ridden in the evening, they likely will need more for replenishment. I certainly wouldn't want my horse becoming dehydrated because he didn't like auto waterers and drank more inside.

But realistically, your horse would be fine under normal circumstances. I would be surprised if any horse ever suffered by being given one, clean, full water bucket at night. Even if it's completely dry he's likely getting enough to thrive. That, of course, is assuming he's drinking enough during the day, is not a 1400 lb horse, and isn't suffering from medical issues.

[RiverBendPol]

Mine can have 2 buckets if they want/need them but look at this. Of 3 horses home at the moment, 1 drinks down his water the minute he comes in at night and has to be refilled at late night. #2 barely drinks 3" down over the entire night and #3 always has a couple of inches left at breakfast time. So I'm saying some horses don't need 2 buckets. I am in the dead of winter here and prefer to refill at late night than to hang 2. I serve only hot water and if I had 2 hanging, one would be icy by the time he wanted a drink.
Long story short, if I was boarding and the owner REFUSED to hang a 2nd bucket for my horse who was always dry in the morning? I'd be gone.

[Huntertwo]

What if the BO won't hang 2 buckets in horses stalls that tend to drink a full bucket everynight? This was asked and she said, they have pleanty of time to drink outside from the automatic waters. So this will make them learn to drink outside and save the water inside.

What do you say to that?

"BYE, BYE"

[Huntertwo]

If a barn owner made a non-negotiable care statement that was not in line with my personal preferences, I'd be handing in my 30 days' notice. That said, let's examine the issue more thoroughly before jumping the gun.

In the wild, horses most certainly do NOT have access to water 24/7, yet they get along just fine most of the time--their bodies are built for it. Yes we'd all like our precious darlings to have endless supplies of water 24/7, and yes it's important for horses to have access to clean fresh water most of the time. But does your horse die if you go on a two-hour trailer ride and he can't drink? Does he die if you're at a show and he only gets to drink half a bucket every three hours? I'm guessing not. And it is an enormous PITA to be dumping and scrubbing a second, full water bucket every day or week just because a paranoid owner wants Dobbin to have water that he may or may not be drinking.

In short, provided the horse is only without water for a few hours, this may not be the end of the universe.

If it were my horse, my suggestion to the BO would be to hang an additional half full bucket for a trial period (maybe 2 weeks) to see if the horse does in fact drink more than one full bucket overnight. Offer to clean and dump this half-filled bucket yourself during the trial period. If the horse drinks the extra water, then the BO may agree to let you have two buckets. If he doesn't drink the water, then you know it was your own paranoia.

Maybe the horses in the wild don't have access to water 24/7, but they are always on the move, stimulating the gut. A lot different than a stalled horse.

If I'm paying board, what the heck is so hard about dumping buckets? Isn't that part of the standard care?

As far as Dobbin's paranoid owner? I hope you never have to experience a horse with Impaction Colic, I did. Not pretty and not cheap.

[BuddyRoo]

One argument FOR having as much water as needed overnight is that they're also often given hay at that point. And horses do need ample moisture for processing hay. Dehydration can contribute to impaction colic.

That said, I don't really get the point of "withholding" water. If you're offering to puchase a bucket, hang it, etc....what does it matter? I doubt this would be a deal breaker for me unless it was generally indicative of the BO's lazy nature/unwillingness to consider options.

FWIW, when my horses were out 24/7 in the summer, they'd go up to the water about 3 times a day--religiously at the same time. In the winter, they'd drink after I fed them in the a.m. and again about 4 just before I brought them in. Would each drain a bucket. I tried putting in 2 buckets (out of concern)...and funny...they just never really touched the extras.

[chism]

If the owner refused to hang a second bucket for my horse IF he needed one, I'd be gone in a heartbeat.

However...another side to this is...many horses just don't need 2 buckets. It really depends on the situation. I work at a 26 stall barn. In the summer just about every horse has two buckets inside and year round Nelson waterers outside. Invariably we empty about 50+ 3/4-to-completely full buckets every day. Most of the horses prefer the Nelsons to the water inside and wait to drink when they're being turned in/out. In the winter every horse has one bucket except for those that have demonstrated a need for two. Those would be the horses who actually drank most of a full bucket or more at night, the ones that consistently leave 2 full buckets have one bucket removed. We never have empty buckets in the morning either. The majority of the buckets we empty are still at least 2/3 or more full. The horses have access to the Nelsons from 8-4:00, then come in from turnout to full water buckets and their buckets are topped off around 8:00pm. This reduces by 1/2 the number of frozen buckets we have to deal with in the morning, and in no way effects the horses adversely. If at any time a horse is found to be drinking more than usual then he gets his second bucket back. There are owners that think their horse needs 2, but in a barn of 26 horses...there are about 4 that really require a second bucket at night.
FWIW - Yes, I have experienced an impaction colic with one of my own horses. It wasn't for lack of water either, just lack of drinking. He had a 50 gallon heated stock tank at the time.

[jn4jenny]

As far as Dobbin's paranoid owner? I hope you never have to experience a horse with Impaction Colic, I did. Not pretty and not cheap.

Did you just wish an Impaction Colic on me? Charming.

Anyway, you're making some pretty grandiose assumptions about what is and is not going on in that horse's stall at night. We don't know how long the horse is in, what it's eating or not eating, nor even if the horse is in good health. So unlike you, *I* didn't jump to any conclusions. I suggested that the OP take a deep breath, realize that a few hours without water CAN be okay IF the conditions are right, and that they're better off negotiating rather than just plain walking IF they have no other complaints about the barn.

I feel I made a perfectly reasonable suggestion to put out another bucket and see if the horse drinks. Some will; some won't. The OP can go from there once she's got tangible evidence that the horse does or does not need another bucket.

[CaseysWhiskey]

Gee, can we say lazy? Are there automatic waterers inside the stalls also? And maybe they just don't want to screw with filling buckets up at all?

Weird.


No automatic waterrs inside.

She also dose not due a night check. Horses are in by 5pm during the winter. SO the nights I'm there I due a run thru the barn after I'm done riding and fill when needed. So around 7:30. Out of the 16 stalls about 3-4 have to be filled. Also the other night the barn worker missed a bucket, so if there was a night check done. She would of found this also! My horse is one that could use a 2nd bucket, due to him dunking. The barn worker that works 4 days a week there throws his hay in the back of his stall so he dose not have to deal with the "yucky" water bucket! I always move to the water when I'm there. IF my horse wants to dunk his hay then he can do it!! So... this also means an empty bucket in the am from the hay soaking up the water.

[sublimequine]

No automatic waterrs inside.

She also dose not due a night check. Horses are in by 5pm during the winter. SO the nights I'm there I due a run thru the barn after I'm done riding and fill when needed. So around 7:30. Out of the 16 stalls about 3-4 have to be filled. Also the other night the barn worker missed a bucket, so if there was a night check done. She would of found this also! My horse is one that could use a 2nd bucket, due to him dunking. The barn worker that works 4 days a week there throws his hay in the back of his stall so he dose not have to deal with the "yucky" water bucket! I always move to the water when I'm there. IF my horse wants to dunk his hay then he can do it!! So... this also means an empty bucket in the am from the hay soaking up the water.

Hey now, don't blame the barn help. If there's a problem, take it up with the BO or BM. The barn staff has nothing to do with it.

I would've moved your horse's hay, too. Not for my own convenience, but a lot of horses won't drink their water once it's full of hay. I want to try and offer the horses as much clean water as possible, and moving the hay does that.

[CaseysWhiskey]

Hey now, don't blame the barn help. If there's a problem, take it up with the BO or BM. The barn staff has nothing to do with it.

I would've moved your horse's hay, too. Not for my own convenience, but a lot of horses won't drink their water once it's full of hay. I want to try and offer the horses as much clean water as possible, and moving the hay does that.

I'm ALSO a barn worker on Saturdays!

[sublimequine]

I'm ALSO a barn worker on Saturdays!

So you should know it's not up to barn help, and it's not their fault. :confused:

[cholmberg]

What if the BO won't hang 2 buckets in horses stalls that tend to drink a full bucket everynight? This was asked and she said, they have pleanty of time to drink outside from the automatic waters. So this will make them learn to drink outside and save the water inside.

What do you say to that?

BUH BYE!

That's what I'd say. I almost lost Calli to impaction colic because of JUST such a situation. I'd argued with the BO several times and he swore blind he was filling that bucket several times a day. yet every time I showed up it was bone dry and she'd suck down a full bucket as I filled it myself; he was lying about it, later saying that it was MY responsibility to make sure she had water all the time since I cleaned the stalls in the morning (I was there maybe three hours doing stalls, funny he never mentioned this until we were facing each other in -court- where he perjured himself.) Two days before she was leaving (I wasn't staying in that situation) she colicked. She spent a week at LSU on an IV. Luckily she didn't need surgery but it was a very near thing. Water is non-negotiable. If your horses bucket is dry in the mornings, then he gets two or hand in your notice.

[lovaleo4]

Honestly....i would wave bye-bye!!!!

30 days notice????
no way i'd get out of there ASAP!!!!!

[springer]

Why would she owe her 30 days notice? The woman is a horse idiot! She should get out as fast as possible.

[kbbarn]

When reading this thread, one main thought comes to mind: Is it truly that hard to hang an extra bucket?

I mean, WOW, the inconvenience of giving a horse an extra bucket of water must be very taxing. Whether or not you believe a horse can 'learn' to drink outside, or whatever, it goes back to the heart of the matter: Owner who pays for boarding requests an extra water bucket. Big deal. Just hang an extra bucket. BO could even negotiate with owner - if we hang an extra bucket, can you please clean it? Problem solved

Domestic horses need not be compared to wild. Two completely different lifestyles. Horse should have access to water at all times. Each horse also probably has different needs so if a horse drinks more at night, then more water should be provided. Another example of horses being different is that some horses will seek out certain plants like Dandylions because something in the horses body says it needs it. Other horses avoid such plant since they do not need it. Give the horse extra water. There are also those horses who have diabetic/Cushings symptoms without the owners knowledge. These horses MUST have extra water. If a BO refuses the water request, find another barn.

[Equibrit]

If you are a professional horse-keeper. (ie; somebody PAYS you to look after their horses) Why is it a pain in the arse to hang an extra bucket. The woman is demented!

[BarBee4]

I too would be out of there. IMO- the BO has to be flexible and allow two buckets of water to be in his stall when needed. I used to have a horse that drank a lot and my BO put two buckets in w/o me even asking. Handling two buckets is more work, but it is nothing compared to dealing with a dehydrated horse.

[rmh]

The op says "the horse tends to drink a full bucket". Do they know the bucket is dry in the morning? If the horse actually drinks a full bucket and needs more on a routine basis then I would be upset. The suggestion to experiment even if the BO doesn't want 2 buckets would let the owner know the horses habbits. Then there is no spectulation and if she moved her horse they would know what to ask for up front.

[Nicker]

If it were my horse, my suggestion to the BO would be to hang an additional half full bucket for a trial period (maybe 2 weeks) to see if the horse does in fact drink more than one full bucket overnight. Offer to clean and dump this half-filled bucket yourself during the trial period. If the horse drinks the extra water, then the BO may agree to let you have two buckets. If he doesn't drink the water, then you know it was your own paranoia.

This is what I would do....and have done. And yes, an extra FULL bucket of water to be dumped everyday does make a difference...just ask my chiropractor. ;)

But I would never tell someone flat out no that they couldn't hang an extra bucket. But I also wouldn't hesitate to remove it if it went untouched after a couple weeks. FWIW, on the rare occasion the horses are stalled I do multiple checks. Occasionally one downs an entire bucket, but the checks are usually within 4 hours of each other so it's no biggie.

[KC and the Sunshine Band]

What if the BO won't hang 2 buckets in horses stalls that tend to drink a full bucket everynight? This was asked and she said, they have pleanty of time to drink outside from the automatic waters. So this will make them learn to drink outside and save the water inside.

What do you say to that?


I say that's a cheap ass lazy barn owner / manager.

[CaseysWhiskey]

The op says "the horse tends to drink a full bucket". Do they know the bucket is dry in the morning? If the horse actually drinks a full bucket and needs more on a routine basis then I would be upset. The suggestion to experiment even if the BO doesn't want 2 buckets would let the owner know the horses habbits. Then there is no spectulation and if she moved her horse they would know what to ask for up front.


I do/have stopped by many mornings to make sure he is prepared with the correct blankets, dropped off farrier checks, board checks, etc. on my way to work (7:15 a.m.). Yes not every day but a couple times and there is little to no water in his bucket.

[Fairview Horse Center]

Boarding barn manager here. I have been the one to hang the 2nd bucket if a horse seems to be running out by morning. I have told my girl that waters to let me know if she finds one out more than just once.

Some horses choose to drink inside, some drink out. Their choice. I want it available if it looks like they will use it. I don't want to just hang a 2nd one though if the horse is barely drinking any out of one. That is just busy work.

My stallion used to be a hay dunker. It made me sad when he stopped. I LIKED that he would enjoy dunking his hay.

You could force a 2nd bucket, but my problem is more with the attitude. The barn manager to me is not showing that she cares about the horse, so that is why I would be gone. Things around a barn may not be perfect, but CARING goes a long way to show you WHO they are.

[CaseysWhiskey]

I really don't want to leave. Not many farms in the area that I can afford.

Do I just confront her and tell her that I WANT a 2nd bucket in my horses stall no IF, AN's or BUT's!?!?!

[Fairview Horse Center]

I will say that when I first began to board horses, I would go around each morning and add water to any if the were VERY low or empty before feeding/turning out. Not a one would drink then. They are just focused on grain, and going out to play. I add the 2nd bucket for a few weeks/months. If they are not using it, and just drink barely the full bucket anyway, I may go ahead and remove it.

[Fairview Horse Center]

I really don't want to leave. Not many farms in the area that I can afford.

Do I just confront her and tell her that I WANT a 2nd bucket in my horses stall no IF, AN's or BUT's!?!?!

Yes, absolutely you can do that.

[Hilary]

Approach is everything when dealing with other people.

Did you demand they hang an extra bucket? Or did you say "hey, I've come by in the mornings a couple of times and his bucket seems low. Can he have a second one for a while to see if he needs it?"

it sounds like you have other issues with this barn - them placing his hay pile for a reason and you moving it back without talking to them - that sort of says that you already "demand" and maybe they are primed to be defensive. Yes, you are paying them to care for your horse, but you need to find a place that is up to your standards all the time and maybe this place isn't it.

Fwiw, of my 4 horses only one regularly needs a second bucket when inside overnight - but he eats 2-3x as much hay as the others. The other 3 sometimes drink as little as 1/3 of their pail.

[thumbsontop]

How about "BO, it's very important to me that my beast has water, with a little left over, every night. I know that he dunks his hay and that causes inconvenience. I'm more than happy to help maintain his bucket cleanliness. Can we please try adding an extra bucket, or half, and see how he does - maybe for 30 days? I really like this barn and the quality care my horse is given. I'd appreciate the opportunity to try this."

[Wigwag]

I would say "here is my 30 days notice."

That is ridiculous - I would not settle for anything less then my horse having two full buckets every night. Horses do not "learn" when to drink - they just drink when they feel like it.

I agree.

I absolutely can not believe the crap people put up with at their barns. Find a new barn. Yeah, it sucks, and yeah, the grass isn't always greener. But if place B sucks even more than place A, start looking again and move to place C.

[KC and the Sunshine Band]

It's WATER! It's not like you're asking to paint clouds and carrots in his stall to make it all dreamy for him.

The horse should have access to as much water as it will drink.

[goeslikestink]

What if the BO won't hang 2 buckets in horses stalls that tend to drink a full bucket everynight? This was asked and she said, they have pleanty of time to drink outside from the automatic waters. So this will make them learn to drink outside and save the water inside.

What do you say to that?

say bye bye-- ahorse needs water at all times and its 80% of its body weight if not enough water then its the quickest way to drop weight

uncaring and penny pinching-- move to better falcicity and oh matey check out the place regards to water before you move in along with addition and traditional faclities ie fields and paddock mantainnce . before you think of schools and tea rooms and easy access to bridle ways or trials so you can go on them with out to much traffic

[goeslikestink]

If a barn owner made a non-negotiable care statement that was not in line with my personal preferences, I'd be handing in my 30 days' notice. That said, let's examine the issue more thoroughly before jumping the gun.

In the wild, horses most certainly do NOT have access to water 24/7, yet they get along just fine most of the time--their bodies are built for it. Yes we'd all like our precious darlings to have endless supplies of water 24/7, and yes it's important for horses to have access to clean fresh water most of the time. But does your horse die if you go on a two-hour trailer ride and he can't drink? Does he die if you're at a show and he only gets to drink half a bucket every three hours? I'm guessing not. And it is an enormous PITA to be dumping and scrubbing a second, full water bucket every day or week just because a paranoid owner wants Dobbin to have water that he may or may not be drinking.

In short, provided the horse is only without water for a few hours, this may not be the end of the universe.

wild horses move from pasture to pasture and they know where known water holes are

you cannot state what a wild horse does in the wild to a domestic one as they are wild and unless you live in the wild and follow wild horses then your statement is one of hearsay


If it were my horse, my suggestion to the BO would be to hang an additional half full bucket for a trial period (maybe 2 weeks) to see if the horse does in fact drink more than one full bucket overnight. Offer to clean and dump this half-filled bucket yourself during the trial period. If the horse drinks the extra water, then the BO may agree to let you have two buckets. If he doesn't drink the water, then you know it was your own paranoia.

no sweetie wrong again- ahorse should have water available to him at all times
a horse can drop weight real quick if not enought water its one of the fastest ways of doing so-- and water counts for 805 of his body weight and and a horse ca drink as much as upto 10 gallons a day even more depending on what type and weather and terrian and work

abucket or two is like a quench of thrist--- through out the day they drink--

[jn4jenny]

I really don't want to leave. Not many farms in the area that I can afford.

Do I just confront her and tell her that I WANT a 2nd bucket in my horses stall no IF, AN's or BUT's!?!?!

And this, for those of you on this thread who are taking the ultra-elitist "BUH-BYE!" attitude, is a prime reason why I suggested that CaseysWhiskey take a slightly less alarmist, diplomatic approach. I'm glad that some of you live in areas where there are absolutely endless barns that are 100% perfect matches for your needs, but some of us live in areas where there are only so many barns that even APPROACH excellent care at non-goldfinger prices. This is not necessarily a deal-killer if the BO is willing to test-run a second bucket.

CW, just propose the second bucket based on the grounds that your horse is a hay dunker. If this is met with resistance, suggest hanging one for 2 weeks to see if the horse drinks out of the other bucket, and offer to clean the second bucket yourself during this trial period. And go from there.

[2ndyrgal]

Go to the nearest TSC. Buy a bucket hook and a bucket. Hang it in your horse's stall and fill it. Be prepared every day to dump and scrub the dunky bucket because the barn help will simply refill the clean one. Every day, my big horse gets two buckets in his stall, one is the dunk bucket, one the drink bucket. He drinks almost all the dunk bucket and over half usually (in summer all) the drink bucket. Since it's cold and nothing gets fermented overnight, I dump the "clean water" into the dunk bucket and refill the drink bucket. (I hate to waste water) He drinks the same amount from each bucket every day. When it's very hot, he will often drink BOTH buckets down to the bottom and at least half again when refilled. The pony does not dunk, drinks ONLY the freshest water, so his is emptied and refilled daily. The big horse's dunk bucket must be emptied/scrubbed daily in the summer. Every horse is different. Just hang another damn bucket. Jeez.

[BumbleBee]

Hey now, don't blame the barn help. If there's a problem, take it up with the BO or BM. The barn staff has nothing to do with it.

I would've moved your horse's hay, too. Not for my own convenience, but a lot of horses won't drink their water once it's full of hay. I want to try and offer the horses as much clean water as possible, and moving the hay does that.


I'm with Sublime here. The barn help likely just wants to help insure that your horse has clean water.

Also if you demand in the "no if's ands or buts" manner you are likely to be told to find a new place. You don't make much $$ boarding horses and there are better more mature ways of approaching the situation.

[ryansgirl]

What if the BO won't hang 2 buckets in horses stalls that tend to drink a full bucket everynight? This was asked and she said, they have pleanty of time to drink outside from the automatic waters. So this will make them learn to drink outside and save the water inside.

What do you say to that?

"I'll be back w/ a trailer and I'll be moving my horse immediately". Yes you can still give a 30-day notice - pay for the 30 days but leave asap. I would NOT leave my horse at a barn like that. Just another reason why I have always done rough board...

[galwaybay]

Op's horse is dunking hay in his water bucket ? Question is he drinking his bucket dry or just messing it up with his hay? Would he drink 1 & 1/2 or 2 buckets a day - even in the winter? Lots of horses like to do "dunkin doughnuts" with their hay and do not require a 2nd bucket. before you say Im outta here I have to agree with looking at the circumstances. If its just that your horse is dunking hay and not being parched in the AM, then I agree w/ BO a 2nd bucket is not necessary.

2nd question - are you in an area where there is concern over drought conditions? If so then your BO has every right and concern to be somewhat fruggle w/ the water. This past summer our area was under severe drought, no where near as bad as say Florida, Georgia but still bad enough. Water from water buckets became bath water w/ a splash of vetrolin - our horses were no longer bathed after each ride. Water troughs were not filled to the top as some horses were apt to play in them, knock them over, and wasting precious water. So before any of us are too quite to judge this BO - there might indeed be more to the story than just a simple No to the 2nd water bucket

[Ghazzu]

What if the BO won't hang 2 buckets in horses stalls that tend to drink a full bucket everynight? This was asked and she said, they have pleanty of time to drink outside from the automatic waters. So this will make them learn to drink outside and save the water inside.

What do you say to that?

I'd say, "here's my notice."

[tobruk]

A friend of ours, a top reining trainer, didn't have running water from a faucet. He had a creek. The horses were stalled 24/7 except when they were worked. They were taken to the creek 3 or 4 times a day. Ideal, I don't know but nobody ever died on him. It's amazing what horses learn to do. They're great survivors.

[Huntertwo]

Did you just wish an Impaction Colic on me? Charming.

Anyway, you're making some pretty grandiose assumptions about what is and is not going on in that horse's stall at night. We don't know how long the horse is in, what it's eating or not eating, nor even if the horse is in good health. So unlike you, *I* didn't jump to any conclusions. I suggested that the OP take a deep breath, realize that a few hours without water CAN be okay IF the conditions are right, and that they're better off negotiating rather than just plain walking IF they have no other complaints about the barn.

I feel I made a perfectly reasonable suggestion to put out another bucket and see if the horse drinks. Some will; some won't. The OP can go from there once she's got tangible evidence that the horse does or does not need another bucket.

Wishing impaction colic on you? I do believe that YOU'RE the one who is jumping to conclusions. Where in the world did I even remotely say that? :rolleyes:

I've I'm a paying boarder and want 2 buckets, I do NOT think that is so unreasonable. I'd rather dump a bucket in the morning than take a chance of having an empty one. Get a grip...

[galwaybay]

I've I'm a paying boarder and want 2 buckets, I do NOT think that is so unreasonable. I'd rather dump a bucket in the morning than take a chance of having an empty one. Get a grip...[/QUOTE]

If your barn is in a drought area and barn is on a well - then I can tell you that the owner of that barn will not be too happy with "I am a boarder and I want 2 buckets" and "I'd rather dump the water in the morning" - they might send you packing. Once a well is dry - there is no more water.. yeah you can drill for another but perhaps a BO would rather conserve water than spend several thousand on digging another well.

Now I'm not saying not to water, I am just saying there are most likely 2 sides to this story - certainly if OP's horse is dunking hay in his bucket and making a mess, I'm not too sure he needs a 2nd bucket to dunk hay in and make a mess - and that's most likely what he'll do. I know a horse that dunks his hay in his water bucket and has for 28 years. He has 1 bucket, has cancer and was given a "few months" to live. God-love-him that was 2 and a half years ago. He is still dunking hay in his bucket and no he doesn't have a 2nd bucket and he's been fine all his 29 years

[Sithly]

Wow. From time to time this BB reminds me why I will NEVER, EVER board horses. I'd like to know how some of you are able to actually ride your horses. Do you place buckets strategically around the arena so Precious can take a sip every lap? ;)

Some of these responses illustrate an all-too-popular attitude. Everyone thinks it's no big deal to get something extra done for their horse. And it's not. The problem arises when a) every other boarder hears about the extra thing and wants it, b) every boarder wants a different "something extra," or c) a boarder expects a $300/mo. barn to cater to all their special requests.

BOs should have a general formula for dealing with special requests (meaning those that are above and beyond the basic care included in board, which should be spelled out in the contract):

1. Determine the time it takes to comply with the request.
2. Multiply that by the number of horses in the barn.
3. If it still sounds okay: do it.
4. If not: refuse, charge extra, or raise board to reflect the extra labor costs.


OP, the more expensive barns in your area might offer the level of service you want. It's worth looking into. Otherwise, just see if you can buy and maintain your own second bucket, and everyone's happy.

[staceyk]

Hi,

The responses to this remind me that on a bb, anything can be debated.

I would talk to the BM again. Most boarding contracts have a basic care clause that mentions water, and you could refer to it.

Free access to water is NOT IN ANY WAY a debatable point. Show me what veterinary manual or equestrian pub that has put in writing that access to water is optional, at any time. To those of you who say they know of barns that don't water, or don't water much, it's a numbers game. You're risking dehydration/colic. And that's a false economy if there ever was one.

My .02 :-)

[VCT]

I typically use 2 water buckets per stall. Once winter settled in here, all of the horses except one were leaving one full frozen bucket of water every dang morning. So now, they all have one, except for the one horse who actually drinks from both buckets. I guess the main difference is that I do nightcheck at 10-11pm and top off everyone then.

But for those of you who think an extra bucket is no bid deal? You try carrying howevermany extra buckets that are frozen outside and smash all the ice out of them everyday. It IS a lot of extra work.

I would definitely see if you can try to put an extra bucket in, provided you maintain that bucket. Perhaps if the BO sees that the horse drinks it then they'll rethink. If you like everything else at this barn I would try to find a work around.

[Just Wondering]

Do I just confront her and tell her that I WANT a 2nd bucket in my horses stall no IF, AN's or BUT's!?!?!

Confront - no. Talk to - yes.

The approach in any situation makes a huge difference. If you start on the defensive, then other person tends to be defensive too.

Ask her to try it for X number of days. Base your decision on what happens.

How long has your horse been there?

[seeuatx]

I would try talking to her and suggesting that the 2nd bucket be your responsibility. They can fill it, but you dump and scrub it, so it is only an extra 10 seconds of work for them.

If it is still a no go, I would say well consider this my 30 days.

[trubandloki]

CW, just propose the second bucket based on the grounds that your horse is a hay dunker. If this is met with resistance, suggest hanging one for 2 weeks to see if the horse drinks out of the other bucket, and offer to clean the second bucket yourself during this trial period. And go from there.

CW you seem to be ignoring the posts that are giving you real world advice and jumping on the threads that think Poopsie needs water ever second of his life.

Jenny has written some VERY well done posts. Go back and read them. (there are a few others that have made great posts also)


I do agree that if this barn does not offer what you want (specialized care for Poopsie) then do look into another barn. It does sound to me like you want more than this barn offers.

[VCT]

I would just like to add... and maybe this will ease the OP's mind somewhat:

Like I said before, right now all the horses but one have only one bucket.

They typically suck down a bunch after their evening grain. I top them off later at nightcheck. However, ...I can't think of a easy way to explain this. Uhm. Even if I did NOT top them off, all the horses except two would NOT be out of water in the morning. I can tell by how much they've drank after I've topped off, compared to how much was left before I've topped off. If that makes any sense.

Oh and the horse who still has the two buckets... he would be FINE with one. He drinks equal amounts from each bucket.. leaving half or more than half in both - and I DON'T top his off. I only leave him with both buckets because he always uses both and seems to enjoy keeping them level :D Plus, when they are half empty they are easy to carry. Most of the other horses with one bucket that gets topped off at nightcheck still have theres 2/3 or more full.

So my point is that it's a low percentage of horses who really need two buckets. Maybe yours really doesn't or maybe he does. But if you speak to the manager calmly and whatnot you may have more success in getting what you want.

[Fairview Horse Center]

My learning curve of stable management has been awakening. When I first began to manage my barn, 25+ years ago, I always topped buckets at 11PM. My house was 2 steps away from the barn, and I like to do a late night check, treats, etc. Over a year, probably only about 5 times did I find that ANY horse had drank another drop between 11 PM and morning turnout. That is when I FIANLLY gave up topping at night, and started morning adding for those that were empty or almost empty. Again, it took me a LONG time to get comfortable with the fact that they would not drink then either, and again, it was just really busy work. Some DO go right to the trough as soon as they get turned out, but those are usually the ones that still have full buckets. They just prefer the trough.

I STILL do add a bit at night if I notice one is low, and I always check new horse's water until I see what their pattern is over the first weeks and months.

I am comfortable with my knowledge because of my personal "experiments", but I do not expect any one else to be, so I am HAPPY to add a bucket it it makes THEM feel better. In many cases, that IS what stable management is about. It is not just making the horses happy and healthy, but making their owners able to sleep at night too. It is like blanketing. If I was doing what made the horses most comfortable, none would wear a blanket, but some of the owners feel better if their horse has a blanket on, so that is what we do.

[LivviesMom]

My girl drinks a ton so one bucket would be a deal breaker. I moved her from a barn with poor quality water.. she refused to drink it occasionally as it smelled so bad.. she had always been a heavy water drinker.. at the new barn, she is back to drinking two buckets when she comes in i want her to have access to as much as she will drink.When I get there in the evening after work (6pm or so) she has already finished a bucket..BO tops them up at night check. I don't mind dumping and cleaning my own buckets. I do mind if she colics..

So if has been your experiance and you believe your horse needs 2 buckets, stick to your guns and talk to the barn owner or move..

[goeslikestink]

Op's horse is dunking hay in his water bucket ? Question is he drinking his bucket dry or just messing it up with his hay? Would he drink 1 & 1/2 or 2 buckets a day - even in the winter? Lots of horses like to do "dunkin doughnuts" with their hay and do not require a 2nd bucket. before you say Im outta here I have to agree with looking at the circumstances. If its just that your horse is dunking hay and not being parched in the AM, then I agree w/ BO a 2nd bucket is not necessary.

2nd question - are you in an area where there is concern over drought conditions? If so then your BO has every right and concern to be somewhat fruggle w/ the water. This past summer our area was under severe drought, no where near as bad as say Florida, Georgia but still bad enough. Water from water buckets became bath water w/ a splash of vetrolin - our horses were no longer bathed after each ride. Water troughs were not filled to the top as some horses were apt to play in them, knock them over, and wasting precious water. So before any of us are too quite to judge this BO - there might indeed be more to the story than just a simple No to the 2nd water bucket


here in kent uk we have had a hose pipe ban for years due to droughts there more water up country than in the south--
but restrictions arent on live stock or house holds supplys it just the use of the hose pipe ie car washing-- lawn watering etc

[Huntertwo]

I do agree that if this barn does not offer what you want (specialized care for Poopsie) then do look into another barn. It does sound to me like you want more than this barn offers.

Since when is water considered specialized care?? :eek:

My mare happens to poop in her water bucket, so at least I know she has another bucket to drink from when this happens.

Kudos to the BOs/BMs who really top off the water when you say you will.

I've heard that song and dance many a time, only to find an empty water tank or bucket quite often. After a couple of times of that, I left.

[trubandloki]

Since when is water considered specialized care?? :eek:



Um, you make it sound like the barn owner offers no water!

The barn owner does offer water and the system they have sounds to me like it would work for 95% of the horses out there.

As many others have said, they would not board at a place that offers only one bucket, this barn offers only one bucket (though the OP has not tried Jenny's wonderful suggestion yet) so it is obviously not the place to board if you feel your horse can not do well on this set-up.

I see it as no different than a barn that only feeds a certain grain or a barn that only gives a certain amount of hay.

As a horse owner it is our job to find a facility that works for what we have. Not pick the lowest priced place and then complain they do not do things our way.

Saying what you said is just being silly. The horse gets water! Just not two buckets.

[Just Wondering]

Since when is water considered specialized care??

AGAIN - the OP is asking something the BO does not do under normal circumstances - therefore it is OUT OF THE ORDINARY. Maybe not specialized but not 'normal'.


BEFORE jumping ship - have a nice sit down with the BO.

[olympicprincess]

One barn I boarded at years ago used to bring them in around 3-4pm and they weren't seen again until 7-8am.
BM didn't originally want us hanging a 2nd bucket due to the extra work, but we said we would take total care of it. The BM could ignore it... we just wanted it to be AVAILABLE. Got the biggest bucket I could find. :D

[Squeeks]

My horses always have 2 buckets in their stalls at all times.

Horses are animals they eat and drink when they feel the need too..

"OK children no more to drink 2 hours before bedtime, and make sure we all go poddy before we get tucked in...going poddy in the middle of the night is NOT allowed"


hehehehe I'd leave.

[goeslikestink]

i used the big muck buckets as water buckets-- and or diy gardening buckets so mine get a muck bucket that holds 4 normal buckets of water even the ponies have the smaller type holding two buckets- i shove them in a tyre so not to be knocked over and i place them at the back of the stable in a corner-- and hay at front end-- horses dont ever pooh in them as they are higher up on the sides and flexable have carrying handles to pick up and chuck out waste water which goes into a bath for washing stuff - and wider at top than bottom -

[trubandloki]

My horses always have 2 buckets in their stalls at all times.

Horses are animals they eat and drink when they feel the need too..

"OK children no more to drink 2 hours before bedtime, and make sure we all go poddy before we get tucked in...going poddy in the middle of the night is NOT allowed"


hehehehe I'd leave.


Um, it is not uncommon for people to restrict their kids water intake in the evening to prevent bed wetting and having to get up in the night issues.

So, you think you are being funny, but what you say is what lots of people do.

People also do that with their dogs when they are house breaking them, pick the water up after a certain time of night.

People and animals do learn.

And no one said anything about not being able to go potty!

[clanter]

Just getting the dead squirrel out of the auto waterier in the field may help

[CaseysWhiskey]

And this, for those of you on this thread who are taking the ultra-elitist "BUH-BYE!" attitude, is a prime reason why I suggested that CaseysWhiskey take a slightly less alarmist, diplomatic approach. I'm glad that some of you live in areas where there are absolutely endless barns that are 100% perfect matches for your needs, but some of us live in areas where there are only so many barns that even APPROACH excellent care at non-goldfinger prices. This is not necessarily a deal-killer if the BO is willing to test-run a second bucket.

CW, just propose the second bucket based on the grounds that your horse is a hay dunker. If this is met with resistance, suggest hanging one for 2 weeks to see if the horse drinks out of the other bucket, and offer to clean the second bucket yourself during this trial period. And go from there.

Amen to your 1st paragraph!! I can't just up and move! Not many places around! Already looked!

I will propose this to her when I see her next hopefully tomorrow night.

Thanks

[AppJumpr08]

Right now with it being so cold my horses have 1 bucket in each stall (I really can't afford 20 heated water buckets being plugged in all the time!) - I top them off at night check, and haven't had a problem with them draining the bucket dry... they have outside heated tubs during the day.

In the summer, when its hot, they all have 2 buckets (that get topped off at night check).

I think that if the horse is draining its bucket dry it clearly needs 2... but if it never finishes more then half a bucket at night, the second bucket is a waste of water and time... (of course, if there is no late night check being done, 2 buckets would certainly make me as a horse owner feel better)

[CaseysWhiskey]

Some of these responses illustrate an all-too-popular attitude. Everyone thinks it's no big deal to get something extra done for their horse. And it's not. The problem arises when a) every other boarder hears about the extra thing and wants it, b) every boarder wants a different "something extra," or c) a boarder expects a $300/mo. barn to cater to all their special requests.

BOs should have a general formula for dealing with special requests (meaning those that are above and beyond the basic care included in board, which should be spelled out in the contract):

1. Determine the time it takes to comply with the request.
2. Multiply that by the number of horses in the barn.
3. If it still sounds okay: do it.
4. If not: refuse, charge extra, or raise board to reflect the extra labor costs.


OP, the more expensive barns in your area might offer the level of service you want. It's worth looking into. Otherwise, just see if you can buy and maintain your own second bucket, and everyone's happy.

I totally understand when one person wants one thing and the next wants one thing and so on an so forth. By the time you are done you are at 30 different things for the 30 horses at the barn. With cheap board you can't do this, nor should you have to. Your time is worth TO much! YOU sound like my BO, she dose like to keep things simple (sometimes to simple!!) Only one type of feed! No boots on at turn out! She even complains about blankets sometimes! ECT. BUT she pays people to do all these things. She only feed in the AM Mon-Sat. and turns out. The rest (stalls, pm feed, bringing in) our done by barn staff, me being one of them! I would certainly WITHIN reason if an owner had a special request as a 2nd bucket would like it hung and filled, like I'm asking, I would do it. ITS ONLY A FEW HORSES THAT NEED A 2nd BUCKET. Less then a handfull. I'm already dumping one bucket out the dutch door, I could easily do 2!

[staceyk]

Yes, I've seen the phenom where one boarder does something, then everyone does it or wants it. For awhile everyone's horse is getting a bee pollen supplement, or their horse needs a hay bag b/c someone elses has one, etc. It's helpful to have a barn manager that uses the "power of veto" based on their knowledge of what the horse really needs, rather than just saying no because they don't want to deal with other boarder requests.

[Sithly]

It's helpful to have a barn manager that uses the "power of veto" based on their knowledge of what the horse really needs, rather than just saying no because they don't want to deal with other boarder requests.

True. There has to be some level of customer service. I know I wouldn't want to board at a barn where the BO didn't at least listen to my concerns.

[Stacie]

Yes, I've seen the phenom where one boarder does something, then everyone does it or wants it.
To combat this, perhaps you can suggest that you'd like to hang a bucket in the back next to his hay, for dunking. I doubt that too many of the other boarders have horses who dunk hay and it makes sense that you'd want a "clean" bucket for drinking.

[Priscilla]

My horse drinks a lot of water and has 2 buckets in his stall.
I boarded at one barn where the BO only wanted 1 water bucket in each stall, due to the increase in the price of water!!!!!:eek::eek:

[greysandbays]

I've got eight horses between 20 and 36 years old. Five of them have not EVER, in their ENTIRE LIVES had water available 24/7 in winter. The other three might have in their former lives, but not in the 25 years I've had them.

And the last time I had an impaction colic was..... let's see... oh, now I remember: NEVER. They learn to drink when there's water (which will be just a few hours in the morning on really cold days), and a horse's system holds well over a day's worth of water unless you are trying to run the damn thing to death.

[partlycloudy]

I worked at a stable (for a SHORT time) where all the horses had 2 water buckets. In the winter. I arrived at about 1 pm to do stalls, and the BO insisted on filling up all the buckets at about noon before she went for lunch. I was supposed to empty all the buckets and scrub them. 3/4 of the buckets had fugly snaps and I always ended up with water sloshed into my boots (because the pails were nearly always full) and I was supposed to carry the buckets away outside and dump them over the fence (so no icy spots for horses to slip on)
Now I know this is way over the top, but for those of you who feel 2 buckets is no extra work.....
If there are staff around most of the day topping up buckets, I don't see why 2 would be necessary....guess you just have to decide if your horse is REALLY lacking in water.

[trubandloki]

I'm already dumping one bucket out the dutch door, I could easily do 2!

If you are having to dump the one bucket it is clear the horse does not need two buckets, right?

[CaseysWhiskey]

If you are having to dump the one bucket it is clear the horse does not need two buckets, right?

Sorry, meaing...the horse across the asile way from the dutch door's bucket stall has to be dumped or cleaned. Or hay in the bucket might have to be dumped.

[Equino]

I had this thread in mind as I set about my daily barn work this morning. I have 8 horses, 3 get 1 bucket, the rest get two. Two of the ones with only one bucket get refilled at every night check (10pm) with warm water since they live out, and more often than not, both buckets are lower than 1/4 full. This AM, out of what was 13 full buckets at 10pm last night, I had to dump about 4 1/2 buckets worth (out of all the buckets that is). I have a pretty good idea how much each horse drinks, so when I refill at 10pm, I make sure everyone has enough water that they will have at the very least 1/2 bucket come AM (meaning-if one horse, who usually finishes a bucket, has 1 1/2 buckets at 10pm, I don't top off). Sure, there have been times I find horses without water, and noone had serious issues, but my belief is as long as I am able to provide each horse with ample water, I will.

It is a hassle to dump full buckets all the time, especially when it seems all the horse uses it for is a hay dunker. But dealing with a colic case is even more of a hassle, so if I can help prevent colic by ensuring the horse has water, dumping buckets are worth the hassle.

[shakeytails]

I've got eight horses between 20 and 36 years old. Five of them have not EVER, in their ENTIRE LIVES had water available 24/7 in winter. The other three might have in their former lives, but not in the 25 years I've had them.

And the last time I had an impaction colic was..... let's see... oh, now I remember: NEVER. They learn to drink when there's water (which will be just a few hours in the morning on really cold days), and a horse's system holds well over a day's worth of water unless you are trying to run the damn thing to death.

So true.

Most horses that live where there is freezing weather don't have water 24/7. Mine don't. They do learn to drink when water is available- when the ice is broken or the trough or bucket filled.

In winter I don't even top off buckets for most of the inside crew. I know how much they drink and I'd rather have a few inches of ice in the morning rather than half a bucket or more. And they sure don't attack the bucket as soon as it's filled with fresh water, either, so I hardly think they're dying of dehydration.

Never had an impaction colic here, either.

I've noticed that most horses drink the majority of their water within a couple hours after feeding time. I can top buckets off at night in the summer and they hardly touch it. The only time I've found the need to refill buckets more than twice a day is in the wicked summer heat.

[mbj]

Haven't read all posts, so I apologize if I repeat what others have said. As a BO where horses are out 8-12 hours/day, I hang 2 buckets in each stall, warm water when cold, with late night check to top off as needed. Some drink a lot, some less, but it is peace of mind for me and MUCH easier than dealing with colic, etc.
Hey, this is a service business we are in.

[Trot Left]

Back in the day at farms that my family worked out the horses did not have any water in their stalls. They were all hand walked out to the water trough 3X's per day. The horses knew the routine and drank when they went out.

I am ok with 1 bucket of water for my horse. If it is empty in the morning then I will fill it but my barn waters 4x's/day and more in the summer so they never go without, never have an empty bucket.

[mbj]

Another reason for 2 full buckets on cold nights is that they retain heat better and so that may be why the horse drinks 1/2 of each :)
In our barn we have horses that drink 2 1/2 buckets at night, most that drink 2, and a few who drink 1 1/2. I do find that they don't drink as much late at night, but that may be because the water is colder then.

[Old Jr. Hunter]

I was in a similar situation once. The horses never had enough water outside, and they had one bucket inside which they would drink at least half of when they came in. Water wasn't topped off after feeding either. So I asked the BM if I could buy a (2nd) bucket and hang it and I would be the one who maintains it every day. She was OK with that.

I couldn't leave because there were no other barns in the area. I had an easy work schedule so I was able to maintain the bucket. And I also carried water to all the horses outside, mid day, every day.

It was a small place so it wasn't hard. I could never understand why they couldn't do it. I was a paying boarder. Needless to say, I am not there anymore.

[galwaybay]

In the winter our horses didn't seem too inclined to drink the water - too cold, and most of them got their fill of water when they were turned out in the morning (pasture troughs had heaters in them, barn buckets froze)

[greysandbays]

Hey, this is a service business we are in.

At least 75% of what passes for "superior horse care" amounts to some combination of:

"I do this and that and the other thing for MY Precious Poopsie (or insist that someone else do these), and that makes me a soooooooooooo much better horse-mommy than those other mean, lazy bastards who can't be bothered to do this and that and the other thing for THEIR poor, abused horses -- those HORRID, HORRID people who should not be allowed to have horses!!!!"
and
"We do this and that and the other thing for your Precious Poopsie because that's THE RIGHT WAY and very few people do it THE RIGHT WAY and being we do it THE RIGHT WAY, you should pay us A LOT OF MONEY to do this and that and the other thing. "

I have no doubt that if the Precious Poopsies had a say in the matter, there would be a lot of Precious Poosie Mommies who would be mortified, horrified, and agasted that the ungreatful beast did not appreciate or prefer their superior horse-mommy-ness and all the money they spend to achieve that self-granted status.

[gallupgirl]

Wow. From time to time this BB reminds me why I will NEVER, EVER board horses. I'd like to know how some of you are able to actually ride your horses. Do you place buckets strategically around the arena so Precious can take a sip every lap? ;)

.

I actually had a boarder that did this........and brought a flake of hay to the arena.............:no:

If there is a concern about water conservation could the extra bucket be just that......an extra bucket where it's not cleaned or dumped every day?

About just hanging your own......please don't do this w/o talking to the BO, it would piss me off if someone drilled extra holes in a stall like that.

[Commander Cody]

I run a training barn with 20+ horses in stalls and more living out and have for at least 15 years. Most of the time, they have 2 buckets and are filled at night feeding and checked when last hay is done (rarely need to top up unless it is really hot). What I do however when it is really cold and buckets are freezing overnight (OK, it's Virginia so it's not that often but still...) is I go to one bucket only, with the second bucket free of ice and in front of the stall. Buckets are topped up as needed with warm water, checked at night hay and opened first thing in the morning with hot water. If one gets too messy or frozen to open easily, it is replace in the AM with the dry bucket, and thawed at our leisure for the next day. So, I guess my point is that one bucket, properly managed, can be efficient and still good for the horses and keep the owners happy.
Seems like the bigger issue is no night check of the horses after 5 PM, IMHO.

[clivers]

I agree with the suggestions to trial or negotiate around the issue...if you are indeed stuck at that barn for now.
FWIW, my horses spent last winter at a boarding barn for $550 each and were not "allowed" a second bucket. By mid afternoon they were out of water (read: DRY) about 50% of the time. To add insult to injury, the barn staff had the nerve to tell my friend who was refilling a bucket in my horse's stall that the management "frown on that". WTF!!!! I was home a lot of the time with a difficult pregnancy and pneumonia and had to arrange for friends to visit every day to check on the water situation but despite this one of my boys colicked 3 times! Add to that filthy stalls and inexperienced people handling the horses...it sucked! At one point I asked whether I could provide a water trough for outside and take responsiblity for ensuring it was filled since the horses had no water in the field either. Apparently they "frowned on" that suggestion as well! Unfortunately, the worst barns are often run by the most defensive and laziest people. Chicken and egg thing I guess...
If it had been an option I would have left immediately, but the boarding barns around Toronto are all pretty awful these days. Makes me doubly happy to have the boys at home finally.
Good luck with the situation and keep us posted. Hopefully you'll have more luck than I did!

[Fairview Horse Center]

OK, question, do you guys reall THAW buckets instead of cracking the ice out? I can't imaging lugging buckets to try to thaw them.

[ponyjumper4]

All the horses in my barn but one have 1 bucket. Most drink about half of it over the night. My TB drinks almost all of both of his buckets. They usually get two in the summer, especially during the middle where they are drinking at least a whole bucket, if not half of the second. One of my ponies will drink both empty in the summer.

[TalkIsCheap]

Buy the second bucket and install it yourself. Honestly.

If the owner is concerned about the well water running dry or the cost of water, then why are they boarding horses and providing a "service".

Now if for instance, the client's horse was pooping in the second bucket, like one of our mares, every day, 365 days a year, no matter where the dang thing is hung in her stall......then I would have a problem with the 2nd bucket.

Try emptying that thing out when without spilling down your front. :mad:

[Fairview Horse Center]

Now if for instance, the client's horse was pooping in the second bucket, like one of our mares, every day, 365 days a year, no matter where the dang thing is hung in her stall......then I would have a problem with the 2nd bucket.

A lady that I had here on self care board came up to me one morning, and asked me if I knew what a "full house" was. I kind of looked at her like of course, what is the joke. She said, a full house is BOTH water buckets, AND the feed bucket full of poop. :lol: :dead:

Her horse did it regularly. I think it was his way of protesting her disinfected buckets. He much preferred to drink out of the "less than spotless" trough with the algae in it for flavor. Kool-Aid! :winkgrin:

Try emptying that thing out when without spilling down your front. :mad:

In my old age, I have begun to lower the buckets to a more comfortable level so they will be easier to dump. Who ever decided they needed to be high anyway? They don't get manure in them any more than the high ones.

[LaBonnieBon]

LOL! Some people posting on here have hung 6 water buckets (or was it 8?) in their horse's stall when it was boarded.... swearing the horse needed it... :rolleyes:

[MaresNest]

I vote for leaving.