But, it is often neglected because many individuals do not understand its importance. Your horse can live longer without feed than it can without water. In fact, water is the major component of the horse's body. So, a 1,200-pound horse contains a whopping 98 gallons of water. That is why water is so important.
Water intake is related to what a horse eats.
The horse needs about 1.5 quarts of water per pound of dry feed. If a 1,200-pound horse eats 18 pounds of feed, it needs about 6 gallons of water. Normally, horses drink 6-10 gallons of water daily. High intakes of protein or mineral result in horses drinking more water. But, other factors, such as temperature, humidity, lactation, and performance also influences water intake.