Your Barn

Cool Clear Water

 

Taking The Automatic Route

 

Unless you are fortunate enough to own land with a replenishing source of fresh water running year round, as a horse owner you have two watering options: manual or automatic.  The least expensive system to install continues to be the manual system or more simply put, hanging buckets for regular watering.  The automatic systems are more costly initially, but tout multiple benefits over manual systems.

A manual system is the least expensive and simplest to install.  A full barn of horses can be watered from one source.  The main source generally consists of a frost-free hydrant (bury depth will vary depending on the regional frost line) located at an accessible area.  At the base of the hydrant, a few shovels full of gravel will allow for adequate drainage and prevent the shaft from freezing during the winter months.  Buckets should be hung by snap hooks to facilitate cleaning.  Hydrants and buckets are available from a variety of manufacturers.  And, gone is the day where buckets only came in black.  From hot pink to florescent green, these products can put of splash of nearly any color in your barn.   From the perspective of most horse owners the highest acclaim of this system is the ability to monitor the amount of water each horse drinks.

 

The biggest disadvantage of the manual system is maintenance.  Buckets must be cleaned regularly to keep water fresh and palatable.  Buckets need to be cleaned more frequently during the summer months.  Horses tend to drink less if the water is cold, making ice removal or bucket heaters essential in the colder climes.  The hose must be recoiled and hung after every watering.  During cold weather the hose must be detached from the hydrant and drained to prevent the freezing of both.  And lastly, standing water provides a habitat for insect breeding.

 

Automatic waterers, though more costly and time consuming to install, provide horse owners with a virtually maintenance free alternative to twice a day watering.  Two top-notch companies vending their products on today’s market include Nelson Manufacturing and Bar Bar A.  Both provide sturdy indoor and outdoor models designed for horses.  Easily removable, stainless steel or aluminum parts allow for quick cleaning.  Left over water drains out leaving no haven for mosquito breeding or winter ice formation.  Sleek new designs have virtually eliminated any danger of harm due to sharp or jutting edges. 

 

  
Nelson offers three different series of waterers available in nine models.  Both wall mount and freestanding models are available.  The 700 series waterers are balance beam actuated with an easily removable stainless steel drinking bowl.  The 300 series are gravity actuated with a stainless steel flip-top drinking bowl hinged to the waterer.  Both the 700 and 300 series offer protective housing option in stainless steel or aircraft grade aluminum.  A float actuated valve controls the 900 series.  The protective housing is constructed of heavy-duty cast aluminum.  All models offer fully insulated, energy efficient, thermostatically controlled optional heaters for year round operation.  Heater and thermostat units feature a three-year warranty.  All Nelson Horse Waterers are fully guaranteed for one year.

 

Nelson hurdled the biggest drawback to automatic watering by introducing the Water Consumption Indicator, available with 700 series waterers.  This digital readout records the cumulative time a horse drinks from its waterer letting you know if your horse is drinking water.  Operable by a long-life replaceable lithium battery it can be located within 300 feet of the waterer being monitored.  Purchase includes 25 feet of 20-gauge wire.  The reset button is a standard feature.

 

Nelson automatic horse waterers are available from numerous agricultural supply stores and mail order catalogs nationwide.  For more detailed information on waterers and other products by Nelson go to http://www.nelsonmfg.com/.      

 

The “original automatic horse waterer” by Bar Bar A comes in two models.  Model 3500 is a non-insulated unit made for warmer climates.  The model 4400 is an insulated unit.  An insulated barrier keeps the air warm below the frost line from chimneying out the topside of the unit.  Fresh water is provided by paddle activation.  After the animal drinks, the remaining water drains back down into the drain field leaving no reservoir for insect activity or algal growth.  Clean water at the right temperature is available year-round.  Bar Bar A waterers are non-electric.  Customers are provided with step-by-step installation instructions and an installation hotline is accessible if needed.

 

Both models offer an aluminum guard option for horses with extreme chewing habits.  Bar Bar A claims no electricity, self-cleaning, non-freezing, fully automatic, maintenance free, continual fresh water source and durability.

 

Models are available factory direct from http://www.horsedrinker.com/.

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