We are about to order a new automatic waterer for the farm. We average about 10 horses give or take that use it. We’ve had a Nelson for almost 20 years (OMG, has it truly been that long???) and it is time for a new one. We were about to order another Nelson, but I’m looking at all my options. Price really isn’t an issue because they last for so long. We live in Virginia and get down to about -10 with windchill at times. I would like something that doesn’t freeze if possible.
We had 4 Ritchie waterers at one of our last properties and they did really well in extreme temps we had.
If you have had such good luck with a Nelson I would just stick with that, especially if you are swapping out a new one at the same place your old one is at.
That way your site should be compatible already size wise.
The barn where I board switched from Nelson to JUG. They have been great! The ones in the turnouts with a wide base seem better than the ones that are pedestal style in the stalls which occasionaly leak a little.
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In my area of the country, you can basically get Ritchie or Brower. I have one of each. Brower is way better design–huge heating elements that are easy to swap out, bigger and better access panel, DRAIN PLUG for easy cleaning. As far as I am concerned it is no contest.
Are you talking about indoor waterers for stalls, or a free standing pasture unit?
For pasture: Bar-Bar-A Horsedrinker - horsedrinker.com - Easy to install by plumber. No electricity!!!
My BO put 7 heated Nelsons in all of the outside turnouts almost 10 years ago. The stalled horses share one between 2 paddocks, which works fine. The BO’s horses and pasture boarders (I’m one of them) have one in each field. They have been great including this winter when temps headed down to -20 at night. They are so rugged and reliable that I would stick with Nelson. I used to help with chores and I often remind the kids how easy their life is not having to pound ice in tubs and haul hose all over the farm to fill them. It also gives me a great deal of comfort knowing my horse has a constant source of water at a comfortable temperature every day without human intervention. That bowl full of water in the midst of a couple of feet of fresh snow looks like an oasis.
These will be outside. Thank you everyone for the suggestions!!
