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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 499
 
Location: ARKANSAS | For the past couple of years i have been getting the automatic waterers from valley vet and they work fine for a few months and then they go to leaking and become a pain in the rear. i was wondering what is the best automatic waterer any of you have and reccommend?? i have 3 horses so it does not have to be huge. but i am tired of this merry go round and i would like something i put out permanent that has a good warranty and some thing that is good quality. i looked into the ritchie founts but they look really complicated. |
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Location: Texas | On the majority of our troughs we use aluminum floats made by Miller and have never had any problems.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 499
Location: ARKANSAS | i am wanting something that i can leave out permanent, something that will have a thermostatisc heater in it and that all i will have to do is clean it...right now i put out heated tubs in the winter and i put out automatic waterers in the summer that dont last all summer i want something that does BOTH.
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
 
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I have had a Mirafount with the ball float in the opening for close to 20 years. It works awesome! It's insulated, not heated, but has never frozen and gives them nice cool water in the summer. Plus, algae doesn't grow in it with no sunlight, so it doesn't get as nasty. When we moved and our water pressure was different, we had to replace the valve, but other than that, it has been trouble-free. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | Up here we use ritchie.....we do have have heat tape on it for the winter...but im guessing u dont get the cold we do..lol.....M |
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Regular
Posts: 68
Location: oklahoma | Love mirafount! Never had a problem and hasn't ever froze here in Oklahoma. Pretty much problem free  |
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Doggy Diaper Designer
Posts: 2322
Location: WI | Ritchie waterers. My husband used to sell them and taught me about differences in them, etc. And they truly just make that most sense |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1045
| I have had my mirafounts for over ten years in my barn and have never had a problem with them! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 975
Location: The barn...where else? SW Missouri | We have Ritchie waterers. They are 20 years old and we have never had any issues. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| I have thought and thought about automatic waterers but HOW do you monitor your horses' water intake? I'm anal about checking my tanks daily to see how much everybody drinks. |
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Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Griz - 2015-04-06 11:11 AM I have thought and thought about automatic waterers but HOW do you monitor your horses' water intake? I'm anal about checking my tanks daily to see how much everybody drinks.
You don't. Mine are turned out in groups, plus they have access to a pond, so I never know if a horse is drinking or not regardless of the type waterer I use. |
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Sideways Riding Expert
Posts: 11371
Location: ND--it snows, it floods, it snows, it floods | Ritchie here as well. My only problem is when it gets really cold I use both a tank heater AND a heat tape but where you are at you shouldn't have this problem. They have different styles too. I think mine is a larger one for cattle but it works great for my 3 horses. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho | We have both mirafounts (LOVE) and Bar Bar A's. The Bar Bar A is good for a few horses and a bit easier to install than the mirafount. You don't need the concrete pad with the Bar Bar A but otherwise the concept is the same. No power no freeze water troughs. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| Three 4 Luck - 2015-04-06 1:35 PM
Griz - 2015-04-06 11:11 AM I have thought and thought about automatic waterers but HOW do you monitor your horses' water intake? I'm anal about checking my tanks daily to see how much everybody drinks.
You don't. Mine are turned out in groups, plus they have access to a pond, so I never know if a horse is drinking or not regardless of the type waterer I use.
Oh, I never thought about that. All mine are kept separate. I may just bite the bullet and go with a waterer this spring. Filling tanks is a PITA - ESPECIALLY in the winter as I have to hook hoses together and drag them all over the place THEN drain them to keep them from freezing. |
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 Maine-iac
Posts: 3334
Location: Got Lobsta? | We installed the Classic Equine by Ritchie last fall. I was worried about it freezing, we had no problems and it gets cold and pretty windy here. I was tickled when it got wicked cold no chipping of ice! We have the insulated ones and I purchased a heat cable and didn't have to use it. They also sell a Water Meter to know how much your horse is drinking.
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| Mainer-racer - 2015-04-07 9:40 AM
We installed the Classic Equine by Ritchie last fall. I was worried about it freezing, we had no problems and it gets cold and pretty windy here. I was tickled when it got wicked cold no chipping of ice! We have the insulated ones and I purchased a heat cable and didn't have to use it. They also sell a Water Meter to know how much your horse is drinking.
First I have heard of this!! Neat-o!!  |
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