A note on the preference of naïve horses for different water bowls

The aim of this study was to determine which of four different models of automatic waterbowls naïve horses prefer. Two groups of horses (n = 8 and 11, respectively) and three individual horses were used to determine the percentage of daily water consumption from two float valve (Lister SB NT 100, Little Giant) and two push valve (Lister SB-1, Suevia 10P) waterbowls. The waterbowls were mounted on a panel 1.1 m above ground and spaced 0.8 m apart. Waterbowl positions were rotated every 48 h until each had been at all locations. Almost no consumption occurred from the push valve waterbowls during any trial. Though there was no significant difference between the two float valve waterbowls during the first group trial, there was a trend suggesting a preference (P = 0.060) for the SB NT 100 over the Little Giant in the second group trial. Because the horses came to drink as a group, individual preference trials were also conducted. The percentage of daily consumption was significantly greater (P = 0.001) from the SB NT 100 compared to the Little Giant in the individual trials. The larger, more open bowl, the greater volume of water that was maintained in the bowl due to the float valve, and the lack of a tendency to startle horses when the bowl refilled were most likely the reasons the Lister SB NT 100 was preferred.