The new ones are better. Bar-Bar-A has been successfully watering horses the easy way for over 25 years. Invest in your animals health and your own sanity with Drinking Post Waterer! The health benefits of not having any standing water are fantastic. I LOVE my drinking post!! Customer service is excellent and I recommend to everyone with livestock if any sort. Anyone with a few tools and willing hands can adjust and replace parts. Pull the unit straight up (without twisting right or left) and keep pulling until the entire insides are out and visible. Plus it's been no problem for all my horses to learn how to use, from small ponies to new born foals. (Yes, you can teach an old horse a new trick, and yes you can lead a horse to water and make him drink, if he is thirsty enough.). We have used other automatic waterers and the DP is hands down better! Pretty low maintenance; however, it is dependent on ground water and dries up during drought, so a backup trough is needed. And the winners are My horses learned how to use it in an afternoon. First, although 73% of the survey participants said they had automatic waterers, we know from earlier surveys that the vast majority of our readers do NOT have automatic waterers-at least 65-70% of our readers who own or manage horse farms do NOT have automatic waterers. SO HAPPY!!. All of our other horses caught on to the DP in a day or two. 79% find it too expensive and/or complicated to do so The Drinking Post Waterers are something that I now couldn't imagine being without. 7 Useful Tips For Exercising Your Horse In The Summer, 6 Reasons Why Your Horse Isnt Drinking Water, Drinking Post Vs Bar Bar A Horse Waterer: Important Facts You Need To Know. - 1/18/2019, we installed a drinking post waterer in the fall, and it has turned out to be awesome! We installed a Drinking Post in November 2017 and have gone through two of the most brutal Februarys we can remember in Montana. We rely on frost-free hydrants and small water heaters (500w). Miraco MiraFount Lil Spring 2800GR, with heater, heat tube and freight: $572.60, purchased through Sweizer Supplies. Customer service is top notch, too. 12% dont careand 3% hate them. The second I put on the training paddle and dribbled molasses in the bowl he got it IMMEDIATELY. Worry free and low maintenance! I love my Drinking Posts!! This is it. Also for those weeks during the winter when we struggle with icy watering troughs the DP Waterers are like little miracles in our pasture (since the only place we are used to ice is in our sweet tea!). If I push down on this lever with my nose, I am rewarded with water to drink. The warmblood apparently reasoned: If I push down with my nose and get water, then maybe if I slam my foot on it, I will get even MORE water! At first, we could not figure out why the Bar-Bar-A had so much grit and dirt in it that it was clogging upuntil we saw the vandal slamming his foot on top of the waterer. A friend introduced me to the Drinking Posts. Valve Assembly The metal platform on which the valve and water flow mechanisms rest. Each post was installed at the center of a pie-shape made up of four separate paddocks, so each separate post can serve up to eight horses. Now, we cannot tell you if Nelsons are the most widely used because they are the best, or if they are the most widely used because they had the best marketing. - 3/02/2021, Drinking posts rock! Yes, I know all about washing them to keep them sanitary, as well as knocking ice out of them in the winter. I know a lot of people who have given up on Nelsons, but the key is to make sure you have someone get their doctorate in Nelson waterers and repair. personal help is always a phone call away. We're even contemplating modifying one so it sits just a few inches off the ground so the pigs can use them too! Website by Entice Design, LLC. Never had them, so never thought about having them. Parts List Drinking Bowl Cap covering the units tube that also serves as the bowl from which the animal drinks. NOTE: The total costs for the Bar-Bar-A installation was less than $1,000 because we were able to use an existing water line, we did not need to run electric and we did not need to install a concrete apron because of the location. The manufacturers specifications were followed by 97% of the respondents when the waterers were installed. It was easy to install - my well guy hooked it up easily and with no prior experience. Hallelujah!! We will experience temperatures of - 40 degrees here in the winter and our Drinking Posts have always worked great year round. We have contacted Bar-Bar-A about this design challenge, and they will work on a resolution with us after the weather turns. Our horses learned how to use it in one day. It is so great to have clean, fresh water year round. They are equally effective in both settings. We had some trouble with extreme weather this year and Brad Piper called and helped us immediately! I didn't use the training paddle and my horse wasn't using the waterer. 31% dont trust electricity and water combined (many of these readers have waterers designed to not ever freeze, such as Bar-Bar-A). We love it but more importantly is all our equine love it as well!!! It pops the circuit breaker on rare occasions., Some horses like to play in the waterers-maybe building up the concrete pad so the waterer is higher would prevent them putting their feet in them., Bury the water lines deeper and insulate in the bottom of the waterers., I should have purchased the waterers sized for draft horses versus regular horses., Better installation. Hard to keep clean, tendency to have mold, etc.maybe someone else has had better luck! - 3/10/2019, works great in Canada even at -30 - 12/17/2019, We Havent touched a hose for 2 years now. The horses learn to push a paddle to get water, and the water is always fresh, as there is never any standing water. Replacement arrived quickly. Not only do our horses love them (all but one learned how to use them in under 3 daysthe dum-dum took a full 7 days), but they are also great for the goats. So stay tuned! It is so great to have clean, fresh water year round. In the majority of cases, the waterers were either installed by a plumber (38%) or by someone on the farm (owner, manager, worker), also 38%. Essentially, inside a water softener is a vessel of resin beads. Say goodbye to scrubbing algae, filling troughs, frozen hoses, breaking ice, and worrying that your horse isn't drinking enough because the water got hot in the sun. The goats always have clean, fresh water and I don't have to dump ice and drag hoses!!! Animals quickly learn operation and when new cows are added, the other cows teach the new ones. We Havent touched a hose for 2 years now. Whether you are located in California or Minnesota the Bar-Bar-A automatic watering tank, with its non-electric benefit, will fill your needs. Ours was a cost-share project by the previous owners and is about 30 years old. Phone: 303.482.1642 Because of their dominance, we decided to install one Nelson. Customer service is top notch, too. - 12/08/2020. Those cold temperatures lasted 10 days very pleased and would recommend for anyone. The waterer is outside (under a barn overhang). Customer service is awesome too. No issues. Our first unit was installed on 2014. I have used these waterers for the past 12 years and other than the foregoing, have experienced no difficulties. Mike Krome, Persimmon Tree Farm (training/lessons/boarding and recognized by Governor for Farm Stewardship & Save the Bay practices; Westminster), I still have around 80 automatic Nelson waterers on the farm. Identifying the right size waterer for your specific application is a simple, and we can help. I am happy to report that even my 6 week old colt has mastered the watering post. We have used other automatic waterers and the DP is hands down better! Anything less than 2 seconds means your horse is getting the proper amount of water. Last year, though I was still very skeptical, I was also very tired, so I bought two drinking posts as a last resort to my annual winter "drinking problem". Easy, safe, healthy for the horses, time and money savings. Great customer service. Talk about maintenance free. They can also plug upnot a fan! Theres preventative maintenance and then theres repair. Beth Barritt (former boarding/training barn manager), I have Nelsons and have had very few problems with them. It is probably overall a good thing. These two items are the most common parts to need replacing and generally need to be replaced every 2 or 3 years. Sickness and disease are not encouraged with good water nutrition. Problem was the lever sat in the sun all day and was very hot to touch. This means more water consumption and and healthier cattle. The Bar-Bar-A watering system bay be installed in barns or pastures. Relatively easy process, and everything arrived in less than one week. NELSONS 60% of Readers Surveyed BAR-BAR-A: Ordered through neighbor who had ordered close to two dozen from the manufacturer and was receiving a discounted rate. I didn't use the training paddle and my horse wasn't using the waterer. We will tackle that subject in a future survey. They can learn to drink ou ot where ever it is placed. Did you have any problems with your waterers this past winter? Our parts available for order online consists of only 2 items because our maintenance issues are relatively few. Moreover, a lot of people also suggested that installing a water softening system could lead to fewer issues. It arrived quickly but was the wrong colornot Sweizers fault, as the order was clearly correct. 85% of Equiery Readers LOVE their Automatic Waterers! It was easy to trouble-shoot. Proper minerals and proper water consumption are required for a healthy immune system. Just bought another horse and he caught on quickly. Exercising your horse in the summer can be quite the challenge. We contracted for all installation (excavating, trenching, gravel, piping, 2 concrete aprons, stone dust, electrical, plumbing). we installed a drinking post waterer in the fall, and it has turned out to be awesome! We love our DP! Have had them for over 9 years. I highly recommend the Drinking Post! Prior to using the Drinking Post Waterer I used tanks. Drain Valve The small brass fitting at the end of the main valve assembly that directs the water flow in and out of the drinking bowl. Chrissy Keys Heard, former owner, Oatland, boarding/lessons, My girlfriend got the Nelsons last year and she loves them. For years they did it the old fashioned way dealing algae in the troughs, or manually breaking the ice with a hatchet. The unit is versatile in that it may be installed in a fence line or between two stalls making it possible for horses on both sides of divide to access the water. In the winter stress is especially hard on the system in the cold temperatures. We own a small farm/boarding facility and had 16 of these waterers installed and I couldn't be happier. - 2/12/2019, I LOVE my drinking post!! - 7/18/2019, We dont need a tank to clean, keep full and put a heater in during the winter. Main Valve Washers These are the washers inside the main valve that re attached to the grey arm. Wish I had installed in my pastures too! We had issues with freezing in extremely cold temperatures, and they got back to us immediately and resolved the issues! And apparently, horses have some ability to process linear logic, as a basic if this, then that consequential process. (NOTE TO SELF: Dont do ALL the concrete work at the same time, because then there is no where to put the horses while the concrete cures, which can take up to 10 days!). Although we are in the deep south and don't have to battle the sub-zero wintersDP Waterers are still life savers. We love our DP! Without adequate water levels in the body, cattle are at a disadvantage in just about every way. Bar-Bar-A and freight: $384.00, purchased directly from Bar-Bar-A with a neighbor who was placing a very large bulk order. I am so satisfied that I now have 5. All three waterers, so far, seem to clean fairly easily. Eliminate stagnant, standing water with Drinking Post. We have 25 quarters horses of all sizes and operate the waterers easily. The ability for cattle to absorb minerals and nutrients is greatly enhanced with proper hydration. Horse drinker maintenance on the Bar-Bar-A is not complicated. Care FREE all winter long!! The Mirafount won out because of esthetics we just thought it looked a little nicer than the Ritchie. No more expensive heating bills, or broken troughs from freezing. - 2/01/2020, These are life changing! My property does not have any way of turning off outdoor water-just the well pump, so if anything goes wrong or if a pipe froze between house/barn/waterers I would have to turn off the whole system. A horses body consists of approximately 70 percent water. - 12/07/2018, I am so satisfied that I now have 5. These waterers have saved our lives in the summer when we have to pour out hundreds of gallons of water every day to keep our water fresh, cool and algae free. Just wanted to let you know I reall LOVE my Drinking Post horse waterer. Great customer service ! After having several issues with a competitor's automatic waterer, I can say with enthusiasm, this waterer is worry free. The Drinking Posts work great! Drinking Post could significantly reduce your electricity bill and your maintenance. While winter months present issues such as frigid weather, the summer months carry with them heightened risks of overheating and dehydration. Readers uniformly agree that Nelsons are best left to a professional to install. I am now happily weak as a kitten and it's all due to the Drinking Post! Nelson NHW 760-24SH 16 diameter x 25 height, pad-mount with heater and freight: $764.22, purchased directly through Nelson. Copyright 2016 - 2020 | Frost Free Automatic Waterer by Drinking Post | All Rights Reserved, Year 3 using the Drinking Post, they have been trouble free and a huge $$ saver, no heating costs in the winter. 4 Pipe This 4 inch piece of pipe connects the union to the t which connects the valve assembly. But his platter-sized foot is bigger than the bowl, and so he just kept slamming the unit in frustration. No more dirty, standing water risking the health of your livestock. Nope! When I stable my horse overnight in a stall I use a bucket. - 5/09/2020, Water is always available for livestock, regardless of freezing or high temperatures. At the time of installation, we had three horses and two mules on the property: one old Thoroughbred, one old Morgan, one old American Warmblood, one old mule and one young mule. If you dont have acidic water, then I know of no problems with the Nelson. Its important to remember that your horse 6 Reasons Why Your Horse Isn't Drinking Water. We will tackle that subject in a future survey. As temperatures rise all over the country, your horse is at risk of overheating even moreso than normal. Simple to install. An excavator installed the waterers only about 7% of the time. 1-800-244-9580. Honestly the most efficient and reliable waterer Ive ever used. Best thing about the units is they are simple and easy to work on if repair is needed. The maintenance videos are all well done, but I still called for some help and got the best customer service you can imagine. Didi Bierbauer, Windcrest Training Farm, I have the type of automatic waterer that is ground water driven into a concrete tank. The Bar-Bar- A is not limited by these factors. You might add inquiries regarding the time savings and task eliminating that people experience who have automatic waterers. 60.4% of survey participants have Nelson waterers. Also for those weeks during the winter when we struggle with icy watering troughs the DP Waterers are like little miracles in our pasture (since the only place we are used to ice is in our sweet tea!). order your automatic waterer system parts, 7 Useful Tips For Exercising Your Horse In The Summer, 6 Reasons Why Your Horse Isnt Drinking Water, Drinking Post Vs Bar Bar A Horse Waterer: Important Facts You Need To Know. The Bar-Bar-A functions similar to a frost-free hydrant, with no standing water, eliminating the need for a heater. Sunday, November 24 was the first day in which the temperature did not rise above freezing (high temp was 30, low temp was 23) and the MiraFount froze. I hate that., Pipes supplying water froze in single digit temps and subzero wind chills., Put waterers in a more accessible place for ease of cleaning and checking. The customer support was above and beyond great and Mike took time to answer every question or email I sent. We've had our Drinking Posts since 2002 and could not be happier with them. Email:[emailprotected]. They're practically maintenance-free and always work - even in the dead of winter. They are fabulous!!! I highly recommend having it! It's reliable.when the winter winds are blowing you know your animals have fresh water, when it's a hot summer day they have cool fresh water!! While horses can overheat any time of the year, it is most common for them to overheat during the blistering hot summer months, as hot and humid 7 Useful Tips For Exercising Your Horse In The Summer. I installed two last fall nieghbors were cautious about them and cold weather 2 weeks ago we had negative 20 temp with minus 34 wind chill and they worked as advertised while my other waters were a solid block of ice. Installation Process For a video on what this looks like you can view the installation video and fast forward to the last minute of the video. Talk about maintenance free. Of the survey participants who have automatic pasture waterers, 77% of them are heated. The same goes for wherever you are located, as there are always tools and professionals out there willing to give you a helping hand. (They are up a hill. Clearly, when we emailed out the survey link, the majority of those motivated to participate were those who have waterers and wanted to share their experiences. I would estimate that of my 25 waterers, on average, at least one a month needs parts-and parts are exorbitantly expensive. However, 92% of Nelson owners would recommend them! However, except for cistern waterers, the complicated installations moniker was reserved for Nelsons. No more worrying about whether your horse has water, cleaning buckets or troughs, dumping toughs that could be a breeding ground for algae and mosquitoes, filling buckets, de-icing them, worrying about heated water buckets getting unplugged, etc. Easy, safe, healthy for the horses, time and money savings. We were so happy with them that when we added eight new stalls we installed eight new Drinking Post Waterers. It has not been a full year yet. Say goodbye to scrubbing algae, filling troughs, frozen hoses, breaking ice, and worrying that your horse isn't drinking enough because the water got hot in the sun. Tomorrow These waterers have saved our lives in the summer when we have to pour out hundreds of gallons of water every day to keep our water fresh, cool and algae free. You know the age-old saying: You can lead a horse to water, but you cant make them drink it. Horses are very finicky when it comes to their water, which can be frustrating, given that they need a lot of it (5-10 gallons a day!) My vet said the quickest way to get a horse sick is dirty standing water. Because the source water for our units comes from a buried water line, the water is much warmer and easy to drink. No problems. Here are the most common maintenance procedures. The water fills and exits using this pipe. Love them! I've seen him come out of the stall and go to the drinking post rather than drink out of his bucket, he likes it that much. We learned that our readers are very brand loyal. We dont need a tank to clean, keep full and put a heater in during the winter. Love them! Too extravagant or expensive to purchase, install and/or maintain. They work great! No brand; poured concrete above-ground cistern style livestock waterer. Replacement of the copper tube requires replacement of a tube and hose part, which costs about $12. I think they are a lot of workespecially when some horses find out how to flood the area. Its deceptively simple but dont underestimate it! The maintenance videos are all well done, but I still called for some help and got the best customer service you can imagine. Worry free and low maintenance! We had issues with freezing in extremely cold temperatures, and they got back to us immediately and resolved the issues! Fresh, clean water with every use. Clean COOL water immediately available even in 100 degree temperatures. I have always kept water buckets in their stalls. Even the waterers that had problems this past winter, readers almost universally blamed it on the extreme weather and not the brand or unit. I bought the portable one since I don't need to bury it in the florida sand. Animals quickly learn operation and when new cows are added, the other cows teach the new ones. As far as I am concerned, the horses are equally happy with the Nelson and the MiraFount. The Drinking Post can be installed anywhere you have a pressurized water line. Do not get Ritchies or Nelsons for fields! The waterer is outside (under a barn overhang). The second I put on the training paddle and dribbled molasses in the bowl he got it IMMEDIATELY. With the Bar-Bar-A cattle waterer our top priority is to help you keep your cattles water consumption at proper levels. Of course, you can learn to do it yourself. This process can often prevent future plumbing issues that are typically caused by a build-up of minerals. Once the concrete had set, the MiraFount went in quickly and easily. In winter, cattle also are challenged with proper hydration because of the icy, frigid standing water exposed to winter air. Our Drinking Post has never frozen and we consistently have -30 degree temps for weeks on end. We look forward to connecting soon! Love it!!! Think about all of the stress related to water for your horse, now imagine that gone. They would only leave their sheds to get long, long drinks of bathwater-temperature water and then run right back in.). To access the internal workings, loosen the two screws located on the bottom side of the top that covers the buried tube. Unfortunately, such bolts have apparently become as rare as hens teeth, so that was another day of delay, over the weekend in which we had our first hard frost, and no heater in that lower pasture.