Water or no water

QuarterHorses · 08-11-07, 08:17 PM

I have traveled across the U.S. with horses for 15 years. Some people say you should allow your horses to drink water. Other people say, you shouldn't give them water. Each time I have tried to give my horses water while on the road, it always failed. Have you been able to give your horses water while on the road? I have to wait until I stop for the night before they will drink water again.

StillTyping · 08-13-07, 09:59 PM

Why do they not drink at all? Would it just be a "natural horse thing"?

**alexis** · 08-14-07, 08:30 AM

I know during a move/transport many animals do not feel the need for food or water......this would not surprise me for a horse to do the same thing a domesticated animal would. Try having a cat meowing the entire time from a trip Cali to east coast, no food no water, even when we stopped. This really does not surprise me though. Most of the time, the animal needs to feel safe and secure before wanting to do anything else. Imagine what happens when you take a horse on a road trip, that has never really been anywhere but home, imagine what is going through that animals mind.

BlackStallion · 08-27-07, 11:28 AM

I think animals are not used to traveling on vehicles just like humans do. In my thinking, animals are also have the tendency to get dizzy on trips and that might be the reason why it doesn't want to drink. And when you have stop for the night already, it has calmed down and can take in water already.

UmYes? · 08-27-07, 05:42 PM

Maybe the horse is scared about what is going on and does feel comfortable drinking. I know that if I was a horse and I was loaded up onto a trailer I would be scared about what is going on.
-UmYes?

OnTheTelephone · 01-12-08, 01:53 AM

I believe that this is part of the reason that horses suffer so much when they are carried any distance. They will not drink because they get stressed out, and as a result they lose weight as they dehydrate. It can take up to two weeks for the horse to recover after a long journey, so go easy on them.

rdez · 01-13-08, 10:41 PM

Thinking about this it does make sense. I know when I have moved from one state to another, while on the road with any type of animal they would wait a good deal of time before eating or drinking as things are constantly changing.

horseshoe · 01-15-08, 08:23 PM

I think giving some water during some stopovers can be of great help to horses. I am not a pro when it comes to traveling with a horse on the road, but am sure this works.

08-11-07, 08:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
QuarterHorses Member Join Date: 08-11-07 Posts: 63	Water or no water I have traveled across the U.S. with horses for 15 years. Some people say you should allow your horses to drink water. Other people say, you shouldn't give them water. Each time I have tried to give my horses water while on the road, it always failed. Have you been able to give your horses water while on the road? I have to wait until I stop for the night before they will drink water again. __________________ Quarter Horses, nothing is better!

08-14-07, 08:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
alexis Super-Moderator Join Date: 08-10-07 Posts: 329	I know during a move/transport many animals do not feel the need for food or water......this would not surprise me for a horse to do the same thing a domesticated animal would. Try having a cat meowing the entire time from a trip Cali to east coast, no food no water, even when we stopped. This really does not surprise me though. Most of the time, the animal needs to feel safe and secure before wanting to do anything else. Imagine what happens when you take a horse on a road trip, that has never really been anywhere but home, imagine what is going through that animals mind. Last edited by alexis : 08-14-07 at 08:38 AM.

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08-13-07, 09:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
StillTyping Member Join Date: 08-10-07 Posts: 15	Why do they not drink at all? Would it just be a "natural horse thing"?

08-27-07, 11:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
BlackStallion Member Join Date: 08-10-07 Posts: 37	I think animals are not used to traveling on vehicles just like humans do. In my thinking, animals are also have the tendency to get dizzy on trips and that might be the reason why it doesn't want to drink. And when you have stop for the night already, it has calmed down and can take in water already.

08-27-07, 05:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
UmYes? Member Join Date: 08-20-07 Posts: 27	Maybe the horse is scared about what is going on and does feel comfortable drinking. I know that if I was a horse and I was loaded up onto a trailer I would be scared about what is going on. -UmYes?

01-12-08, 01:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
OnTheTelephone Member Join Date: 01-01-08 Posts: 25	I believe that this is part of the reason that horses suffer so much when they are carried any distance. They will not drink because they get stressed out, and as a result they lose weight as they dehydrate. It can take up to two weeks for the horse to recover after a long journey, so go easy on them.

01-13-08, 10:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
rdez Member Join Date: 01-04-08 Posts: 25	Thinking about this it does make sense. I know when I have moved from one state to another, while on the road with any type of animal they would wait a good deal of time before eating or drinking as things are constantly changing.

01-15-08, 08:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
horseshoe Member Join Date: 01-04-08 Posts: 17	I think giving some water during some stopovers can be of great help to horses. I am not a pro when it comes to traveling with a horse on the road, but am sure this works.