Re: [RC] Since we are on the subject of water - Carol Suggs
When we trailer camp we give our horses water in
buckets or take them to a stream, several times while we are in camp, once
before we bed down for the night, first thing in the morning and after they have
eaten. We feed in bags or on the ground and I do not let our horses have a
long lead on the high line without us being there. So as soon as they are
finished eating and drinking they get tied short again. I have seen and
had too many accidents with horses on high lines rolling and getting their leg
hung up in the high line or on the long lead. So ours get tied short when
they are not eating or drinking. When we are packing in the high country
our horses are turned out during the day (some with hobbles) and they eat and
drink all they want. They get grain/pellets when they come in at night and
go on the high line for the night. In the morning they get turned out
again when possible.
Maybe those folks were watering and feeding when
you weren't in camp?
Also found out during the trip that some of
them don't hang hay in the trailer when they're traveling -- and it
took us five hours to get to the campground! Why? Because it
makes a mess in the trailer.
** Recently went camping at Pt. Reyes....you
see all kinds of horses and containment systems. Our group had a mix
of horses in electric corrals, portable pipe corrals and two on a high line.
The two on a high line had stops in the line so they could not get within
kicking range; they had their water buckets and hay at opposite
ends....
**I hauled my mare and my friends mare down (3
hour drive). First thing we do when we set up there is give water;my mare is
a very good drinker. The first night she drank half of huge rubbermaid
tote of water, really drank well on the whole trip
**Horses across from us belonging to folks with
extremely fancy LQ trailer and new truck were also on a
highline.
They never had any buckets of water we could
see. I guess the owners walked them to the tiny stream morning and
night. They also went through the night with no hay....and of course,
kicked up a ruckus. In fact, only time we ever saw food in front of
those horses was one morning (pan of grain and very small flake of
hay). The horses did look a normal weight, but I just can't fathom
parking horses for long periods of time with no access to water!!! Mine
always drink the most at night...
