[jumper123]

I read this on the internet. Have you ever done or heard of floating a tennis ball in water buckets in stalls or troughs outside to keep them from freezing up in the winter??? If you have done it....Did it really work??? Is it safe??? THANKS!

[Blistering Winds]

nope, but they do make it easier to bust the ice it seems...

I have a floating tank heater. When we got a NASTY Freeze, most of the water tank was frozen (and the other tank that didnt' have one has about 6" worth of ice to bust before reaching anything)

but mine still had enough and melted the surrounding water nicely.

Mine also had an auto-shut off if it was out of the water....or if it got above 32 degrees.

[Haas Horse Farm]

I would be concerned about a tennis ball being too small and a horse eating it or choking on a piece of it.

[jumper123]

Hass........ my concern too!

[kellidahorsegirl]

It'll work for areas that don't freeze much, if not rarely. But since your profile says you're in Mass, I think they freeze pretty good there right?
The tennis balls won't work here because we spend a lot of the winter at 0 degrees and need tank heaters (which only partially thaw ).

[wpbq]

I think a tennis ball would be to small, but my old barn used a bigger ball, like the ones you see little kids with, and after the horses got used to it, it worked great.

[jumper123]

thanks!!!!!!!

[Sharpspal]

Originally Posted by wpbq

I think a tennis ball would be to small, but my old barn used a bigger ball, like the ones you see little kids with, and after the horses got used to it, it worked great.

Indeed, red rubber playground balls work GREAT.