Posted 2010-08-14 12:51 PM (#5106499) Subject: New metal water trough--HORSES WON'T DRINK
Expert
Posts: 1511 Location: Texas
We just bought a new 100 gallon metal water trough. I washed it for 3 days with Dawn dishwashing soap before putting out in the field. I scrubbed and used a sponge both, but, there still seems to be a "flim" on the water. The horses will not drink out of it.
What do any of you use to scrub a "new metal trough" with when you first get it before putting out for your horses?
Posted 2010-08-14 12:56 PM (#5106504 - in reply to #5106499) Subject: RE: New metal water trough--HORSES WON'T DRINK
Take a Picture
Posts: 7567
Vinegar is good for cutting oils. I think if they get thirsty enough they will drink. I use the plastic troughs now but do not remember cleaning any of them first actually.
Posted 2010-08-14 1:06 PM (#5106515 - in reply to #5106499) Subject: RE: New metal water trough--HORSES WON'T DRINK
Elite Veteran
Posts: 907 Location: South East Texas
Have they been drinking out of a large tank? If not...it may just be the shear size of it that's intimidating them. I know when we bought our 500 gallon tank...the horses and cows both shy'd away from it at first. Wouldn't have nothin to do with it...till they finally figured out what it was. LOL
Posted 2010-08-14 1:09 PM (#5106522 - in reply to #5106499) Subject: RE: New metal water trough--HORSES WON'T DRINK
Expert
Posts: 1343 Location: scurry, tx
i put the 1 inch cholorne tablets in my water troughs and my horses will leave the automatic waters in there stalls to drink out it.. u may try liquid bluing also it is non toxic and it kills any bacteria and smells, i have used that also...i have 1 mare that is a picky drinker and she will drink that.
Posted 2010-08-14 1:11 PM (#5106524 - in reply to #5106504) Subject: RE: New metal water trough--HORSES WON'T DRINK
Flipping back and forth
Posts: 1313 Location: OK/FL
streakysox - 2010-08-14 1:56 PM Vinegar is good for cutting oils. I think if they get thirsty enough they will drink. I use the plastic troughs now but do not remember cleaning any of them first actually.
Same here, our favorite ones are the big black rubbermaid ones you can get from Tractor Supply... but still, metal or rubber, we never washed ours
Posted 2010-08-14 1:20 PM (#5106538 - in reply to #5106499) Subject: RE: New metal water trough--HORSES WON'T DRINK
Expert
Posts: 1511 Location: Texas
Thanks, I forgot about vinegar. We had a fiberglass tank with an automatic waterer on it, but we have a little gelding that could tear up a concrete trough(or at least try). The trough and automatic waterer lasted about a week.
We even have had to put a big piece of PVC over our faucet and not leave a water hose out in the field because he grabs it and takes off with the hose. I can't wait until he goes back to the trainer on the 17th. He has a very bad case of little man syndrome!
We have put a sprinkler out in the field for him and he picks it up and runs off with it in his mouth, water squirting everywhere, chasing the other horses with it!
I have tried the bluing when I used to haul my big App horse. He would not drink the water away from home, especially if we hauled out to West Texas.
Posted 2010-08-14 2:59 PM (#5106668 - in reply to #5106499) Subject: RE: New metal water trough--HORSES WON'T DRINK
Dog Piling Expert
Posts: 5439 Location: Elkview, WV
I have the black rubbermaid tank at home but they have one of the big metal ones at the show and my gelding won't get near it. Only horse I've ever taken their that won't drink from it. I think maybe he is scared of it. So I pack buckets of water back to the trailer for him
Posted 2010-08-14 6:45 PM (#5106904 - in reply to #5106499) Subject: RE: New metal water trough--HORSES WON'T DRINK
Don't Ask Me
Posts: 4007
i clean mine just like i do their water buckets---good ole listerine!!! or the cheap wally world brand..they seem to like the blue spearmint best at my house--they are usually pushing me out of the way to get to it after i have cleaned and rinsed it
Posted 2010-08-14 8:46 PM (#5107041 - in reply to #5106499) Subject: RE: New metal water trough--HORSES WON'T DRINK
Shoot Yeah
Posts: 4003 Location: Where you need a paddle... Oregon!
We just bought a brand new one and put it out the same day we moved our horses to the new house - a week ago. They are used to the big black ones. I thought about washing it after it was halfway full. Hahaha! All 4 of them are drinking out of it just fine. It has an automatic waterer on it. I didn't even think that they might not drink out of it.... Just lucky I guess.
Posted 2010-08-14 10:17 PM (#5107153 - in reply to #5106499) Subject: RE: New metal water trough--HORSES WON'T DRINK
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 539 Location: south central usa
you probably washed it too much...
take for example the bucket you use to wash your truck -- once you empty it you can fill it back up with water and it will sud back up...I wouldn't want to drink soapy water...i would suggest emptiing the trough and maybe scrubbing it without dawn several times... maybe in the morning and afternoon. then just run a lot of water through it-- a pressure washer would be good for it and then you should be good to go.
Posted 2010-08-15 6:24 PM (#5108186 - in reply to #5106668) Subject: RE: New metal water trough--HORSES WON'T DRINK
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1198 Location: North of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Sarah_Leighann - 2010-08-14 2:59 PM
I have the black rubbermaid tank at home but they have one of the big metal ones at the show and my gelding won't get near it. Only horse I've ever taken their that won't drink from it. I think maybe he is scared of it. So I pack buckets of water back to the trailer for him
Just my opinion...but sharing water tanks with strange horses at a show just sets you up to end up with a sick horse...at some point they will pick up "something" from those horses whose care at home you know nothing about!
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New metal water trough--HORSES WON'T DRINK
