Spring water on tap for retired horses

More than 100 lucky horses and ponies at the Horse Trust’s home of rest in Speen, Buckinghamshire now have pure spring water on tap thanks to a new borehole.

Drilled 122m deep into the Chilterns limestone, the borehole supplies water through a network of pipes to both the troughs in the fields and the taps in the office.

Head of welfare at the Horse Trust said: “The water is crystal clear and tastes fantastic. It also saves us a lot of money as our water bill used to be £15,000 a year; it’s free now.”

The horses on the 200-acre site drink up to 12 gallons a day each, and all horses are treated to a bath at least once a year. The borehole, which cost the home £2,000, will also provide the water for washing stables and yards.

Chief executive and resident vet Paul Jepson said the quality of the water is on a par with the finest bottled spring water.

“It has passed the purity tests with flying colours,” he said. “The water is free from agricultural residues, micro-organisms, metals, chlorine and fluoride.”

Funded by donations and legacies, the Home of Rest provides sanctuary for retired working horses, ponies and donkeys.

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