Reminder to ensure adequate water for animals

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

As temperatures heat up in the district, the reminder to keep animals — both small and large — hydrated is more important than ever.

A recent post on a local social media site highlighting the concern of a horse tethered to a side fence on a 30-degree day, without water or shade, saw an overwhelming response of support and concern from the community.

“On a hot day a large horse can drink up to 40 litres of water,” says Jacquie Paull, owner of Riverview Treks & Pinehollow Riding School, Gisborne.

Pinehollow Riding School has 43 horses and ponies on site and know too well the amount of water needed to keep them. Since Christmas they have had to buy in five truckloads of water due to no longer having access to their bore water after the severe weather events of last year.

“Five to six horses in a paddock can easily turn a full trough of water totally dry in a short time,” said Jacquie.

A dehydrated horse can succumb to serious health issues such as colic, or could die.

“A horse can’t vomit — that’s why they get colic. There is a build-up of gasses, their stomach twists, and at times they have to be put down,” she said.

“It’s really important that their water is clean, because worms can infest the water, carrying it through to the horse,” she said.

Horses can also lose essential minerals in their sweat, which can cause electrolyte imbalance and lead to further health issues.  Providing salt blocks labelled particularly for horses can assist in triggering thirst in horses and regulate fluid intake.

A domesticated healthy horse can live up to 30 years, with a rare few outliving this. The oldest known horse was an English horse called O’l Billy, who, as a barge horse, pulled barges up and down the canals and lived to be 62 years old, passing away in 1822.

Operating from Matawai Road, Pinehollow provide riding lessons, horse treks and pony rides; they also offer school holiday programmes and work alongside Oranga Tamariki and Stand Children Services.

New Zealand legislation states that when tethering a horse for the purpose of grazing, the owner or person in charge of the horse must ensure it has access to food, water, shade and protection from extremes of heat and cold. Fines apply if those requirements are not met.

■  If you are aware of a horse that is not being cared for adequately, and are concerned for its welfare you can contact the SPCA by calling their national office on 09 827 6094 ext. 8228.