The average 1000-pound horse requires around 10 gallons of water a day for maintenance.

When the horse is in work or the weather is warm, they require more water. Different breeds will drink different amounts depending upon their genetics. Tracking how much water your horse drinks is a great way to learn and know your horse's average water consumption. When a horse does not drink enough water, this can cause colic and other health problems.

Try the following tips to help your horse drink more water.

Always offer fresh, clean water.
In addition to fresh, clean water provide a second bucket of flavored water. Some flavors that horses like are:
- Molasses (add to the water until it is the color of iced tea)
- Carrot or apple juice added to the water
- Float small pieces of apples and carrots in the water
- Peppermint food flavoring
- Licorice food flavoring

If you change barns and the horse does not like the water in the new barn, you may need to bring water from another source (home, store, previous barn, etc.) to get them to drink. Once they are drinking the water, you are bringing consistently, make a second bucket of water and start to replace 1/4th of this bucket with 1/4th of the new barn water. Every four days, increase the new barn water in the one bucket. For example:
- ¾ bucket of water from home and ¼ bucket of new barn water for four days, then
- ½ bucket of water from home and ½ bucket of new barn water for four days, then
- ¼ bucket of water from home and ¾ bucket of new barn water for four days, then
- All new barn water

Chelated electrolytes
- Chelated electrolytes are electrolytes tied to a protein (amino acid)
- The horse's body absorbs chelated electrolytes, and they activate the thirst center in the brain.
- The horse's kidneys excrete the extra electrolytes into the urine after three days, so only use electrolytes for up to three consecutive days.

Soaked Hay
- Fully submerge hay in water for 30 to 60 minutes in a large plastic tub. Feed the wet hay in the tub after dumping out the excess water. Feeding the damp hay in the soaking container will help it stay moist and not dry out.

Grain Soup
- Grain "soup" or "oatmeal" is an easy way to increase your horse's water consumption. Start by mixing 1 cup of grain with 2 to 4 cups of water. Let this mixture sit and absorb the water. Then add more water and feed to your horse.