>Thanks for the tip on hay stimulating drinking. I have been
known to drop an entire flake into my horse’s water trough, when I am not
sure that they are drinking >enough.
I like doing that, too. You just have to be careful to not
let it sit too long to start getting icky. And, of course, it would be
rude to do so at a vet check with community water (and I know you’re not
suggesting you would), as the water gets VERY icky by the end of the day.
>However, another trick a dear friend taught me was to take your wet
hand, dip it into your electrolyte powder/salts and then wipe it off under your
horse’s lips >before hitting the trail in the morning. This pretty much
makes them want to drink at the very next water stop.
Yup, one of my favorite things to do, too. Although I don’t
dip my hand, I just syringe a small dose of electrolytes just before I mount
up. Excessive electrolyte and fluid losses are always better and easier
to prevent rather than treat after the fact, and both are always better
supplied in smaller, frequent amounts that gigantic boluses trying to play
catch up.
>And my favorite way to teach a youngster how to drink is to ride
long slow rides with an old hand like my old gelding. He teaches them
everything they need to >know, kinda like monkey see, monkey do.
Me, too. Can’t beat a smart, old horse or a smart
old dog to teach yowwens. J
