Behavior of stabled horses provided continuous or intermittent access to drinking water

Abstract

Objective - To compare quantitative measures and clinical assessments of behavior as an indication of psychologic well-being of stabled horses provided drinking water continuously or via 1 of 3 intermittent delivery systems. Animals - 22 Quarter Horse (QH) or QH-crossbred mares and 17 Belgian or Belgian-crossbred mares (study 1) and 24 QH or QH-crossbred mares and 18 Belgian or Belgian-crossbred mares (study 2). Procedure - Stabled horses were provided water continuously or via 1 of 3 intermittent water delivery systems in 2 study periods during a 2-year period. Continuous 24-hour videotaped samples were used to compare quantitative measures and clinical assessments of behavior among groups provided water by the various water delivery systems. Results - All horses had clinically normal behavior. Significant differences in well being were not detected among groups provided water by the various delivery systems. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance - Various continuous and intermittent water delivery systems can provide adequately for the psychologic well-being of stabled horses.