Simply put, water buffets involve offering horses multiple water buckets with different extra ingredients in each. Various retailers sell starter kits with herbs and other additions you can put in clean water buckets.
Independent equine nutritionist Clare MacLeod tells us: “Some owners are interested in using them as a way to offer their horses variety and environment enrichment.”
Clare holds a degree in equine science, a Masters in human and equine sports science, and is a Registered Nutritionist. She has worked as a nutritionist for leading feed and supplement companies, advising horse owners, yard managers, and vets, formulating products, reviewing research, writing articles, and giving lectures. She now works independently, which allows her to offer owners completely unbiased advice.
Offering variety, however, does not mean a horse will self-select particular nutrients in accordance with their needs.
“We have to remember that a number of horses and ponies are harmed every year by eating poisonous plants like acorn and ragwort, and some by eating too much grass,” says Clare.
That said, Clare adds that it can be useful for finding out the flavourings your horse likes.
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“Knowing what tastes they like means you can replicate their preferences when you are away from home at riding camps, clinics or competitions, when some horses may be reluctant to drink different water.”
What to put in water buffets for horses
Herbs that are commonly added to water buffets include:
Other common additions are clays and a variety of mineral salts, and sometimes fruit and vegetable pieces or fruit juice.
Golden rules of setting up a water buffet
Clare says that, at best, a water buffet adds variety and interest to your horse’s day-to-day. At worst, water buffets for horses can be a breeding ground for bacteria and potentially do more harm than good.
Clare’s rules of thumb to follow when setting up a water buffet are:
1. Keep buckets clean
“When I visit yards, I see a lot of water sources that are unclean,” says Clare. “While horses will happily drink from a puddle, there is a distinction to be made between a pool of natural rainwater and a dirty container of water that is stagnant and stale.
“Keeping buckets of water clean is especially important when you start mixing organic matter. You can create a lot of bacteria, which I’m not sure people always realise.”
According to Clare, horses are particularly susceptible to digestive disturbances, such as colic, due to their delicate digestive tracts.
“Therefore, we want to keep contact with preventable bacteria and potential pathogens to a minimum.”
Make sure your buckets are clean to minimise bacteria
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2. Balance the diet
“Everything a horse ingests should be considered as part of a balanced diet,” says Clare.
“We always need to balance the diet first, considering any extras like what's added to water, then consider adding extras like herbs, which are generally added for their properties, and not essential nutrients.
“Speak to an independent nutritionist about what you plan to use if you aren’t sure.”
3. Plain water is essential
Clean, plain water should be offered at all times and as well as water with added ingredients.
Always offer plain water in addition to your water buffet
(Image credit: H&H Archive)
Does a water buffet make horses drink more?
Some owners use water buffets to encourage their horses to drink more water, which could help support good hydration and prevent dehydration.
“We have research that tells us horses prefer things that taste sweet,” she says. “So, if you are in a situation where you really need your horse to drink, adding something sweet like apple juice will likely be the most attractive flavouring.
“Of course, you need to be guided by any underlying conditions your horse or pony might have. You wouldn't want to be tipping an unknown amount of sugar into the water of a horse with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), which now often described as insulin dysregulation (ID) or hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis (HAL), for example.
“If your main aim is to rehydrate your horse, for example after heavy sweating, then the quickest and most efficient way to do this is with an oral rehydration solution (ORS), which has a very specific electrolyte salt content, at 0.9%.”
While she is for anything that represents positive enrichment in a horse’s environment, Clare adds that owners would benefit from ensuring their time is spent doing so in the best possible way for their horses.
“In some cases, the time spent keeping multiple water buffet buckets clean and fresh every day might be better used taking your horse out for more exercise.”
A horse owner and rider with more than 20 years experience, Bethany has been writing for equestrian publications since 2017. Over the course of her career, she has reported from major British Riding Clubs and British Dressage championships, covered Badminton Horse Trials and interviewed equestrian sport’s best athletes. Her work can also be found in Country Life, The Field and Breathe magazine.
