Running dry

OFTEN referred to as “the forgotten nutrient”, water is essential for all life. Without it, dehydration occurs and most physiological functions, including digestion and growth, rapidly become compromised.

Most people are conscious of the need to drink plenty in summer, as increased thirst is directly related to hot, sticky conditions. In contrast, during the winter months we naturally drink less. It is easy to assume that our horse’s needs will be similar.

However, in the summer, most horses are out eating grass, which has a high water content, whereas many are stabled during the winter. Their grass intake is supplemented or even fully replaced by a hay diet, which has