Two Horses Standing in a Mountain River coloring page

About this coloring page

These horses in a river are enjoying something they simply can’t do without: water. An average adult horse drinks somewhere around five to ten gallons a day, and much more in hot weather, during hard work or while a mare is nursing. A horse eating dry hay also drinks more than one grazing on juicy pasture.

Horses can be picky about it. Many prefer clean water at a comfortable temperature and may drink less from a dirty trough or an icy bucket. That is why owners scrub tanks often in summer and use heaters to keep water from freezing in winter, since not drinking enough can lead to colic.

Plenty of people are surprised to learn that horses are good swimmers. In deep water they paddle their legs much like a trot and keep their heads high. Some equine rehab centers use pools or underwater treadmills to help injured horses build strength without pounding on sore legs.

In the wild, rivers and watering holes are gathering spots where herds come to drink at similar times of day. And some horses just like to play, pawing at the water, splashing and even rolling in it on a hot afternoon.

• horses
• river
• mountains
• water
• nature