Water
Water is the single most important nutrient. A horse must always have access to fresh, clean water.
General information, not individual feeding or ration advice. For your own horse, consult your vet or a nutritionist.
How does it work?
As a baseline, a horse needs about 5 litres of water per 100 kg of bodyweight per day; for a 500 kg horse at rest in cool weather that is roughly 25 litres. In practice, an adult horse usually drinks around 25 to 55 litres per day, and considerably more in heat, in work, on a ration of mostly dry hay, or when nursing a foal. Horses prefer water at a moderate temperature and drink less when it is ice-cold.
Why it matters
Water drives digestion, temperature regulation and the transport of nutrients. Drinking too little dries out the gut contents and is a major cause of impaction colic.
Common misconceptions
- A horse on fresh grass drinks less from the trough, but still always needs water available.
- In winter horses do not automatically drink enough; water that is too cold actually reduces intake.
What to watch for
Make sure water never runs out, freezes or becomes contaminated. Drinking too little over a long period increases the chance of impaction colic; talk to your vet if you have concerns.
Discover more
Sources: Iowa State University Extension · Rutgers Equine Science Center.