Clinical, biochemical, and hygiene assessment of stabled horses provided continuous or intermittent access to drinking water

Objective-To compare health, hydration status, and management of stabled pr egnant mares provided drinking water continuously or via 1 of 3 intermitten t delivery systems. Animals-22 Quarter Horse (QH) or QH-crossbred mares and 18 Belgian or Belgi an-crossbred mares (study 1); 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 int ermittent water delivery systems in 2 study periods during a 2-year period. Body temperature, attitude, appetite, water intake, and urine output were recorded daily. Hygiene of each horse and the stable were assessed weekly. Clinical and biochemical measures of hydration were determined 3 times duri ng each study. Clinical measures of hydration included skin turgor, gum moi sture, capillary refill time, and fecal consistency. Biochemical measures o f hydration included PCV, plasma total protein concentration, serum osmolal ity, plasma vasopressin concentration, urine specific gravity, and urine os molality. Results-All horses remained healthy. Stable hygiene was worse when horses h ad continuous access to water. Clinical and biochemical measures of hydrati on did not differ among water delivery systems. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Various continuous and intermittent wate r delivery systems provided adequate amounts of water to stabled horses to maintain health and hydration status, Providing intermittent access to wate r may be preferable on the basis of stable hygiene.