As the weather warms and your horse's coat continues to shed, he may get warm with just a bit of exercise. A cool drink of water may seem like the perfect answer to cool his system after a ride. While you do want your horse to get the water he needs, you don't want him to drink a lot in a short amount of time - especially when his body is warm and the water is cool. The temperature mix can lead to cramping and even spur on a colic episode.
To help your horse limit his intake, give him a bucket filled to the one-quarter mark. Allow him to drink, then walk him around, work on ground training, or allow him to graze for five minutes. Then give him another one-quarter filled bucket. If he still acts thirsty, repeat the process. You'll get in some necessary training and bonding time and your horse's digestive system will cool down gradually.
- Trainer Stacy Westfall
