No joke. I couldn’t believe it when she told me that, but she is adamant. I think mine probably adds $50 or so during the absolute coldest times, but my 125 gallon tank is completely exposed. I assumed an insulated, smaller auto unit would be a lot cheaper to heat…
We have a Bar Bar A waterer and it requires NO HEAT and NO ELECTRIC! It works like a frost free hydrant. The bowl empties slowly after each drink. The horse presses a paddle to bring up more water. In winter, the water is warmer than trough water as it comes from deep in the ground. In summer, the water is cooler - same reason. It took a while for 2 of my horses to “get it” but after showing them a few times and watching the “smart” horse do it, and especially after removing their old water source, they got it. I love it. It’s in my pasture and I don’t have to do ANYTHING for water in the pasture. It’s truly wonderful. And no electric line needed. Just a water line.
I have 2 heated water pails (each holds 5 gal) in the stalls. I’ve been using them for years. They are the best! I’m in Ontario and never any ice in the pails.
I am in Central VA. Have an all electric house (2100 sq feet w/ heat pump) with attached 9 stall barn. All stalls have heated waterers. I have 3 heated outside waterers shared between 6 pastures and I have 2 non-electric auto waterers in 3 other pastures. All are Mirofount waterers. In the last 10 years, i think $260 was my HIGHEST electric bill–which I mostly attribute to the heat pump. I never really think about the cost of the heated waterers–I couldn’t operate without them!!! the non-electric ones with the balls do get iced up in temps below 20, but I just periodically pour hot water over them and they work when horses are out during the day. At a previous barn, I had stainless steel Nelson’s, and i much prefer the Mirofount plastic ones. There is some periodic maintenance. However, I take care of 9 horses by myself and I couldn’t handle winter if I had to deal with hoses and buckets.
tpup, where are you? We get REALLY cold.
I live in Canada. I have ritchie waterers everywhere. It is not feasible if you have more than a couple horses to do water here in the winter without auto-waterers. It’s just too cold for hoses.
I have waterers in all of the stalls but they are not heated, the barn is heated. I have heard of barn fires due to heated stall waterers so I would never have those. I have…6 outside waterers and have 13 horses on the property. I have had one freeze when some wiring come loose, but otherwise they are perfect in weeks of 40 below and the horses drink plenty.
oh, my electric bill is significant in winter but in addition to the waterers I am lighting a large barn and indoor arena.
[QUOTE=TrotTrotPumpkn;8001565]
I was still convinced I wanted one, and then last week I was talking to friends and one said her Ritchie added about $100 a month to her electric bill! Can anyone comment on that? Did you find them much more expensive or cheaper than just a tank and heater to run in the winter? I had always assumed they would be cheaper…[/QUOTE]
Hi Ruth with Ritchie here. $100 a month is actually quite impossible. Our largest units (watering around 500 head) as far north as Manitoba will only cost around $170 for the entire winter to heat. She may be running other items on her farm that may have upped her electricity bill during the winter but we can guarantee that it isn’t a single Ritchie. She is welcome to give us a call if she has any questions.
I’ve gotta say that during our current sub-zero cold snap, I love checking my Nelson in the pasture and feeling water that is almost warm. Nice to know my horses are encouraged to drink. 
Hello Ritchie!
She no longer keeps horses at home. Boards at a gorgeous heated indoor and goes south for the winter!
