Is pollen in the horses water bad for them? Is 2xweekly enough for cleaning?

The cleaner the water the better, but a little pollen in the water shouldn't hurt your horses. Horses are tougher than people give them credit for. They don't need perfect water all the time.



If you need some help keeping your water trough clean, put some fish in it. You can use those algae eaters (plecostamous) or goldfish (I prefer the plecos personally). They can have a hard time adjusting to the water so you'll have to buy like 10 or 12 of them and then maybe 2 or 3 will make it. And you have to take them out in the winter before the water gets too cold but it's kind of fun to have fish in the water trough.

Is pollen in the horses water bad for them? Is 2xweekly enough for cleaning?
Pollen is everywhere in the environment, especially this time of year. It's probably on your horse's hay and any grass they might be grazing on. Horses have been consuming pollen for millions of years with no ill effect. As for cleaning your water trough, if you want to clean it that often, that's great. If not, every two weeks is fine, too. Much depends on how dirty it gets and how often it NEEDS cleaning.
Reply:No, and yes, it's more than enough, especially right now. Pollen doesn't hurt horses- it just makes water look dirty. Our horses get pollen, hay, etc., in their water troughs all the time, and they are never bothered by it.
Reply:I like my guys to have clean water. I fill the tank 2/3 of the way and when it's almost empty I swish it around then dump and rinse.

If the sides of the tank are slippery when I slide my fingers across I will take a brush to it and a 'glug' of bleach...rinsing well after.



I keep my water tank under the run-in so it's out of the sun and blowing dust and the pollen.

Pollen won't hurt but sure does mess up a tank!
Reply:Pollen isn't hard on a horse, they're out in it every day...clean your tank as many times as it takes to keep it relatively clean..if that's three or four times a week due to either dust, hay droppings into the water or whatever then you'll need to do it.