Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Over the years I have seen some pretty funny things happen with horses 
and water.

A million years ago (Okay, like 30) I rode an arab stallion who would 
put his whole head in a trough, up to his ears! and drink and blow 
bubbles.  The first time my mom was on him, and he did this, she 
frantically pulled his head up, yelling "What's he trying to do, commit 
suicide!?"  I've never seen another horse do this, of any breed.

I have a pony who is part Lab, I swear.  She'll dive in water over her 
head, and swim around in circles.  Woe to the rider who isn't ready for 
that!

As for survival instincts kicking in, my mustang mare gets the award.  
When the water trough gets low or empty, she drops on her knees and 
drinks from the small seep in our pasture.... there is a spring there, 
but it doesn't have enough water in it in the summer to fill the hole 
up to where the horses can reach (It's our water in the winter, it 
never freezes) Of the 6 mares in the pasture, she's the only one I've 
seen do this, though the others will crowd around and sstttrrreeeetch 
down to try, they haven't figured out to kneel.

I discovered that little spring the first year I lived here....  Nat 
(arab/mustang/morgan) is no slacker in the survival department 
either.... she dug a little hole in the ground and would drink from it, 
even when the trough was full.  I soon figured out it was a spring, and 
it must taste pretty good because all the horses prefer it to the 
trough.

To keep all this endurance related, we have a small creek that comes 
out of a spring-fed pond in our yard.  Every horse that comes here 
spends time in the pasture the creek runs through until they learn to 
drink from the running water.  That way I've got all the bases covered 
when it comes to water.... troughs, buckets, running water, and spring 
holes.  Makes it nice on rides.... they've seen it all.

Julie


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