[SaddleHappy]

I heard a strange noise a few minutes ago, which sounded like footsteps on my driveway. Since I am the only one home, I was slightly alarmed, and so was the dog. I crept over to the window to peek out and couldn't see anything unusual. I stood there for another minute and there were the footsteps again, they sounded to be right outside the window, only there was nothing there. Just when I was about to begin to revisit my decision not to believe in poltergeists, I noticed that the horses were all gathered at the horse trough. I knew they couldn't be making such a noise, it's just soft ground and it's only loud when they're running, but I thought maybe someone had wandered into the yard and was messing with them, so I went out to check it out. Would you believe, that noise was made by Callie (sil's horse) who was standing at the trough, which we had just filled with 38 cool, clean gallons of water an hour ago, and she was stomping the water out. She stood there and stomped until she had splashed out all but about 1 inch of muddy, disgusting water, which Abbie then proceeded to drink. What in the world is this about??? Anyone ever heard of such a hobby for horses?

[CJ]

There was a water hole at the first NJ farm I had Raps at, which most of the horses would drink from the edge of. But one day we caught an OT TB standing in the middle, kneedeep+ in water, pounding & pawing the surface. It was summery and the heat or flies may have been getting to him. He seemed to be having a good ol' time. The horses that found their drinking water all stirred up muddy seemed less impressed.

[Blistering Winds]

it is one of those "odd" things that horses do. As it gets hotter, you'll find this more and more common. Mine, in a huge stock tank, will GET IN!! He has destroyed MANY tanks. So he's grounded to just a small bucket with an automatic waterer. Though he's destroyed a few of those when the bucket was on the ground.

[Super Step]

This is common behavior.
Some horses I have ridden stop and splash in creeks as you try to cross them.
I just came from feeding the catfish in my pond and 4 horses were in there.
One started splasking and the rest soon followed suite.
Some friends were over and seemed to enjoy the show. Here it it a sign that summer has finally arrived.
They splash water upon their bellies. The muddier they can make it, the better. And yes they will drink the muddy mess.
Tim

[SaddleHappy]

What do you feed your catfish?

[thrghbrdrder]

it must have been a funny sight!!!

[SaddleHappy]

Yeah, it would have been funny except that our pump house is broken and we are actually having to water the horses with city water at the moment..... so watching our $$$ splash out along with the water.... let's just say that was one expensive mud puddle! I just think the expressions on their faces is funny though, all the other horses standing there watching her as though they were having an inservice on how to splash and would be able to do it themselves next time.

[th72]

that image made me snicker a bit. it reminded me greatly of my horse, Susan, whom I lost in December. she would *always* splash in her water, whether on the trail or in a tub...anywhere! she also loved to play in the water with her nose....lots of it splashed onto the ground and everwhere else, of course!

so yes, I agree with everyone else that it is common behavior. our water here, too, is paid for each week. so while I don't have Susan anymore splashing it all over....I do have a nosey horse who likes to play with the hose and water coming out of it as I'm filling the tub. it's so fun to get to know each horse's personality!!

--tara

[Super Step]

I feed them floating fish food. It comes in 50 lb. bags.
In December a friend shows up and had thousands of small catfish taken from a pond being drained. He put some in. The pond is small and built to water livesrock 2 years ago.
I have to feed them or I guess they would starve. It has become one of my daily rituals. They swarm to the top when I drive up. Guess they feel the ground vibrations. It has become something I look forward to.

[SaddleHappy]

We have a fishing pond and one of the fish it's stocked with is catfish. We think it's maybe overstocked.... I don't really need to feed the fish since they have been surviving just fine without my ministrations lo these many years.... but I would love to toss some fish food in and see how much response we get just to try to gauge whether it really is overstocked. So far they haven't found my Sunbeam bread all that tempting. I didn't know you could buy fish food for the kind of fish that live in ponds.... I'll check my feed store. Thanks.