This winter has been very hands off when it comes to water for the horses.
https://v.nostr.build/a4WB.mp4
The water for the horses has evolved over the years. We used to have the trough in an insulated box with a clear plastic window open to the south. We would cover the top of the trough except for a small opening for the horses to drink. It worked great and almost never froze except in extreme cold in which we would have to break a hole in the ice on top for the horses to drink. 
https://i.nostr.build/z6jM.jpg
(Couldn't find any pictures of this thing in action during the winter...)
The biggest problem with that system was filling the trough. No matter how we managed the hoses they would almost always have some sort of blockage from ice and if it wasn't the hoses the spigot would be frozen. Thankfully we only had to fill it once a week or longer.
https://i.nostr.build/eKo0.jpg
Now that we have a mini pony, the solar water trough wouldn't work because the pony couldn't reach. The trough must be kept full by a float valve so the mini can drink. Through our research we found this magic device called a freeze miser. It automatically and passively controls the outflow of water from the hose during freezing weather to keep enough flow rate to prevent it from freezing at as low as 20 below zero!! We have it on a Y valve with the float valve so a trickle of water keeps the float valve from freezing up in the trough too.
https://i.nostr.build/dVBJ.jpg
This  system solves all the problems of the hose management frustration but is continually letting water flow so we are spending some electricity from the well pump kicking on more often. Since the trough isn't in the insulated box anymore we also have to break the ice daily. All in all well worth the trade off of the old system. Next winter I expect to figure out how to get the water trough back in the solar box so the pony can reach.
#homesteading #permaculture #permies #grownostr #horses
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