How to Get Your Pregnant Mare to Drink

Horse Quest states "water is the most important nutrient required of all mammals." It is important to ensure that your pregnant mare stays healthy and hydrated throughout her pregnancy.

  1. Significance

    • Horsemanship and Horse Training Tips states that most horses drink 10 to 15 gallons of water each day. Keeping a pregnant mare well-hydrated is important to her health and the health of her foal. Mares who do not drink enough water may get colic or become dehydrated and put unnecessary stress on their foal.

    Water Quality

    • Ensuring that your mare has access to plenty of clean, fresh water encourages drinking. For mares who are uninterested, adding a small amount of sports drink or powdered juice often helps stimulate interest in the drinking water. If you have recently moved your mare to a new facility, the water may taste different. Mixing water from the old and new facilities helps horses to adjust to a new water flavor.

    Other Considerations

    • For mares who need more hydration than what they are getting through drinking, there are other options to consider. Soaking her grain pellets in water before feeding her helps with hydration, as does substituting dry hay flakes with water-soaked alfalfa or hay pellets. Adding a small amount of salt or electrolyte mix to her feed is another way to increase her thirst.