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 Horse-proof float valve?
Author Message
Member:
stek

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 - 11:46 am:

We have a 100 gallon rubbermaid water tank that has a one of those plastic float valves that attaches to the top/side of the tank that you attach the hose to. The horses have discovered that they are able to pull on the hose and strip the plastic hose coupling threading and pull the hose out and let it run all over the place for fun and entertainment.

Can anyone recommend a float valve that is horse-proof?
Member:
leslie1

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 - 12:02 pm:

hehehehe
glad im not the only one with horses that have a sense of humor
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 - 1:04 pm:

While your at it, I'd like to know of a tank heater that is horse proof. Our horses think they are put in the tank for fun and games, like bobbiing for apples.
Member:
leslie1

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 - 1:25 pm:

He he sara!
that is exactly how Lara shows her sense of humor too!
"Thats not a heater! Its a hoof jack"!
..and to prove I am a big and powerful mare...I will now show you how to break said scrawny hoof jack thingy" and watch all water drain downhill for a lesson in physics and fun.
Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 - 3:21 pm:

The float we use for the cows is made of steel, would that work?

The heater thing hehehe I fixed my horses up one year so they would quit doing that! I threaded the cord thru a piece of thick plastic pcv pipe...tied the pvc pipe to the fence at water level. The cord would be able to float down to the water level BUT the evil monster couldn't flip it out because the PVC pipe ridgidty held it in place...they even finally quit trying!
Member:
stek

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 - 3:43 pm:

That might help Diane, I will have to try it. It will at least make them work harder to destroy it!

Yes I was going to suggest the same thing, PVC pipe for the tank heater. I did the same thing only used a screw to attach the pipe to a fence post. If you make the pipe big enough you can easily thread the cord through it without having to take it apart. Also works for running the hose through so you can put it in the tank and not have ponies take it out while you aren't looking.

Hmmm, maybe I can rig up something like that to attach to the tank float valve too and put it permanently together with pipe cement... if I come up with something I'll post a pic!
Member:
erika

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 - 4:15 pm:

Aw! Aren't horsies cute! Very funny story, Shannon!

Cleo loves her big Rubbermaid trough--to bathe in! She sticks both front feet in and paws the water onto her belly any time the temps are above 50. Only horse I know that can spring a leak in an indestructible tank! We have lost two tanks to leakage already this year because of her "bathing".

If you can keep your horses' feet out of your tanks, I found a submersible de-icer that fits into the screw plug at the bottom of the tank instead of floating on the top. Easier to hide the cord, too, because you can hide it behind the tank out of reach. Sorry, can't help you with a brand name. We've had it for so long I don't even remember where I got it. But they're out there!
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 - 6:41 pm:

Diane, Lonnie tried that with our horses. We also run the water hose through PVC to the tanks. It just gives them a little mental puzzle to solve and slows them down before they destroy the pipe and the float.

Erika, didn't Cleo ever see that picture of the horse that got stuck in the water tank and the people had to get a back hoe in to tip over the tank so they could get the horse out? If she hasn't seen it, you can probably find it on youtube.
Member:
sodmonst

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009 - 11:27 pm:

Yikes! If the trough is close to the fence, could you put the float valve end of the trough on the outside of the fence and the drinking side in? Sometimes this requires a bit of fence fixing, but provided the horses cannot reach through the fence, (a piece of field fencing can take care of this) the valve is safe, and so is your well You can leave almost all of the trough inside the enclosure. You only need about one foot of it outside.

What a hoot. They never fail to surprise. Intelligent animals play. What might this mean?
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC