Water Treatment Considerations for Horse Owners

 

North Central Florida is known for its horses. Ocala, the horse capital of the world, boasts over 400 horse farms, representing every breed from A to Z. The Marion County area alone has over 70,000 acres dedicated to horse care, training, breeding, events, and equipment. 

With over 50 national champions, 6 Kentucky Derby winners, 7 Preakness Stakes winners, 6 Belmont Stakes winners, 26 Breeders’ Cup champions, and 6 Horses of the Year, it’s no secret that this area values our equine friends. Which is why they deserve the best when it comes to their food, shelter, and even the water they drink. 

Your Horses’ Water Source

Making fresh water available to your horse might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s not always as easy as it sounds. 

Florida has one of the best sources of water in the nation but, clean water-completely untouched by chemicals or minerals-just simply doesn’t exist in nature. As water trickles down through sediment and soil to reach the aquifer, it picks up impurities. While these substances aren’t necessarily bad for your horse (ie. minerals dissolved in water have beneficial properties), they aren’t always present in safe amounts. 

 

If you have a stream or pond on your property, the water may be potable, but purity is never guaranteed. It’s important to provide your horses with another source for clean, safe drinking water. 

 

If you live on city water, your county or municipality will regularly test the water and may even provide purification at the source, but if there are contaminants in the delivery lines or your property’s plumbing, it could still affect the horses on your ranch. 

 

If you are like the majority of horse owners, however, you draw your property’s water from a well. Many wells provide pristine water, but it is important to get your water tested on a regular basis. Especially if you’re manure pile is located near your wellhead or at the bottom of a hill (manure piles should be placed with the flow of water in mind) or your paddocks are near a creek or stream. 

Providing horses with clean water is a great management tool to reduce the risk of sickness, promote healthy digestion, and even maintain healthy body composition.

Things to Consider About Your Horses Water

When thinking about adding a water source or maintaining the one you have there are a few considerations: 

• Are your well pump and water treatment system up to the job? Horses drink a lot of water. Having components that are the right size/strength is half the battle of providing them consistently clean, safe drinking water. This is especially important if you will be using the same pump to irrigate your property.
• Is your water source consistent? In addition to drinking a lot, horses are very particular and will often choose the best tasting, safest source. If you have multiple water sources on your property, it’s important to have them maintained regularly, especially if you notice signs of pickiness. 
• If you’re installing a new well, is it in the right location? Planning out your horse property has a lot of factors. Where to put the barn, fencing, grazing area, arena, manure pile, and equipment storage all take careful organization. Make sure when evaluating all these things, you work with a professional to pick the perfect place for your water well.

Choose Perry’s for your Horse Property’s Water Services

When it comes to clean water in North Central Florida, Perry’s has the expertise and tools to do the job right, the first time. Treating water and installing/maintaining wells calls for proper training, the right equipment, and intimate knowledge of the laws governing the practice in Florida. 

If you have recently bought a property and have dreams of horses grazing outside your front door or you already have horses and simply want to provide them the cleanest, safest water in the state, contact the professionals at Perry’s today.