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This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Horse Pasture, Fencing, Barns » Pastures, Fences, & Building topics not covered by the above »
  Discussion on Copper pipe in stalls
Author Message
New Member:
Meerkat

Posted on Sunday, Sep 26, 2004 - 3:03 am:

Hello,

Can it be detrimental to the health of a horse to use copper pipe in a stall (as opposed to the iron or steel used on the top half of a stall)?

Thank you,

Carolyn
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Sep 26, 2004 - 8:22 am:

You mean use copper piping for stall bars? The copper would not be toxic but might be a bit soft for this purpose.
DrO
Member:
Scline

Posted on Sunday, Sep 26, 2004 - 9:57 am:

We used 1/2 electrical conduit pipe and it works great, also inexpensive. The hardest part was cutting it.
Member:
Meerkat

Posted on Monday, Sep 27, 2004 - 5:33 am:

Dear Susan and Dr. O,
Thank you both for your timely responses. Dr. O, I knew I could rely on your expertise. Susan, the conduit is a wonderful idea and my first recommendation. Unfortunately, I lost this particular disagreement. Somehow I think that, I too, will be cutting conduit down the road to replace the dented and bent copper pipe.
Carolyn
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Monday, Sep 27, 2004 - 3:48 pm:

i don't know if you were asking for health related reasons or safety. But, old horsemen used to put copper pennies or fittings in the horses water. It was said to calm mares in season down... LOL...

jojo
New Member:
youngsp

Posted on Monday, Jul 9, 2007 - 9:34 pm:

Recently, my horses' water has had a bluish and milky cast. I can thoroughly rinse the tank, fill it with fresh water and by the next day it is again slightly blue and milky. The tank appears to be galvanized metal; I notice some corrosion in places on the floor of the tank when I rinse it; some of the corrosion is blue, like copper. I board, so occasionally the tank is cleaned by someone other than myself with possibly corrosive substances. What could be the cause of the blue and milky coloration and could it be harmful? Many Thanks!
Member:
hwood

Posted on Monday, Jul 9, 2007 - 11:40 pm:

Welcome to HA, S Young.
Have you had a lot of rain where you live, and is the water tank outdoors?
I notice that even if I clean the tanks and add some chlorine, if there is rainfall, they immediately get cloudy and discolored.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 10, 2007 - 8:17 am:

Galvanized steel turns reddish (iron oxide) flaked with white (zinc oxide) when corroded. The blue you describe is more likely to be copper deposits from the water, though it may preferentially deposit on corroded areas. When evaluating water safety, history can be one indictor: have horses been drinking this water for a long time without health problems? However if this represents a recent change you should consider having the water tested.
DrO
Member:
ilona

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 10, 2007 - 1:52 pm:

Dr. O,
What kind of health problems could arise from galvanized steel water tanks. I'm assuming this would be a result of corroding tanks. I had no idea they could be risky.
Thanx, Ilona
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Jul 11, 2007 - 6:35 am:

I have never heard of any ill consequence from using galvanized steel metal tubs and don't think the metal contaminates the water in a dangerous manner. Galvanized steel is often an approved material for carrying water for human consumption in building codes.
DrO
Member:
ilona

Posted on Saturday, Jul 14, 2007 - 1:37 pm:

Thanx Dr O.
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