Automatic Waters: Good For You, Your Horse, and Your Environment

It’s 5:30 a.m. Your alarm goes off. You hop out of bed and step into a cold, dark fall morning. Flashlight in hand, you hurry out to feed and fill the waterers before heading back inside to get ready for work. You break up a layer of ice that formed overnight, toss it out, and drop the hose in to finish filling. To save time, you leave it running while you get dressed. “I’ll shut it off on my way out,” you tell yourself. Famous last words.

Before you know it, you’re out the door, hopping into your pickup. The phone rings. You answer, get distracted, and head to work. But as soon as you pull into the parking lot, it hits you… You never turned off the water. (Not again…)

Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. That sinking feeling of dread when you realize what’s waiting at home. A flooded pen, a muddy mess, and an imminent water bill soon to arrive. Classic Equine by Ritchie Automatic Waterers were designed to solve many problems.

Good For You

The average horse drinks between 10 and 20 gallons of water per day, depending on size, diet, weather, and activity. That adds up to as much as 7,300 gallons per year per horse. Now consider this: if you’re manually filling water buckets or troughs, you’re likely spending at least 10 minutes per trough, per horse, per day. Multiply that over a year, and you're looking at over 60 hours of just standing there with a hose…For every single horse you own. That’s nearly eight full workdays each year spent on watering one horse alone.

Automatic waterers eliminate that daily grind.

• Cut your daily dumping, scrubbing, and maintenance in half

• Lower your water and energy costs with efficient design

• Help prevent costly vet visits caused by dirty or stagnant water

• Eliminate the hassle of breaking ice in winter with heated models

• A single unit can pay for itself through time, labor, and utility savings

• Boost your property’s value with clean, low-profile, professional-looking installations

• Book a trip, you just gained 60 hours of free time

Good For Your Horse

Traditional galvanized water troughs create the perfect stagnant environment for algae, mosquito larvae, and bacterial growth. As we know, horses can turn their noses to dirty water (rightfully so) and stop drinking. This can lead to dehydration, colic, and an overall unhealthy horse. The smaller surface area and internal, convenient float mean more fresh water more often. Plus, the Classic Equine by Ritchie Automatic Waterers are made with rounded edges, so your horse won’t accidentally hurt himself if he happens to brush up against a unit. The StallFount even comes with a rounded metal lip, so there’s no fun in cribbing.  

Automatic waterers are designed to help:

• Reduce algae buildup and stagnant, old water

• Eliminate contamination from manure, dust, or debris

• Provide clean, fresh water available 24/7

• A more consistent, cool temperate water supply all summer long

Providing your horse with fresh, clean water is a highly underrated yet essential way to keep them healthy and happy.

Good For Your Environment

Dumping out water buckets or troughs can really add up, wasting a significant amount of water each day. Even if you’re only discarding 2 gallons daily, that still totals about 730 gallons of water wasted per horse every year.

Automatic waterers reduce waste through:

• Less dumping of daily water

• Small surface area = less evaporation and more frequent fresh water

• Water seal design eliminates the need for gaskets that can freeze, crack, and tear

Speaking of your environment, here’s an easy visual of some challenges you may face depending on the region you live in. Classic Equine has a solution for every area.

Classic Equine x Ritchie Fount Options

EZFount: Just like its name suggests, the EZFount is quick and easy to install. Garden hose hookup, portable or permanent installation.

StallFount: The space-saving heated or non-heated waterer for single stall use. Heated and non-heated single stall setup.

AutoFount: The ideal waterers for split pen setups. Optional heating for watering in any conditions.

UltraFount: The “Cadillac” of waterers is super easy to clean, and it’s heated and insulated. Keep your horses hydrated and healthy in the harshest conditions.

With the water meter, you can track your horse’s intake, ensuring proper hydration. The immersion heater is a great option for your AutoFount units, along with a variety of other supporting accessories for your Ritchie Waterer.

Classic Equine Water Systems are a smart, long-term investment that reduces waste, time spent watering and cleaning troughs, and improves overall water supply for your horse. Suitable for hot and cold climates, it provides fresh, running water at a fraction of the cost. All Classic Equine by Ritchie waterers are backed by a full 10-year warranty (the best in the industry).

Learn more at https://classicequinebyritchie.com/