Chiming in late. If my mare is risking impaction colic by not drinking enough I make her a ten gallon bucket of warm water with molasses and salt. It has the sickly sweet salt taste of blood or that sour dutch licorice but she will drink it down.
My barn friend was experimenting with a bunch of herbal teas and the horses loved them too
I’m after volume with the warm molasses salt so using basic stuff I have on hand
I tried this this morning - a dash of replenimash with about 2 gallons of water, and it was a nope. He takes one glug of it and that’s it - common across all tea attempts I’ve tried.
I left it out for him should he change his mind later.
What about speedi beet soaked with his normal grain mixed in? I did that for mine this morning as I realized I had them blanketed a bit light last night and really wanted to give him something to warm him up.
you make it sound so appealing.
I also think the beet pulp and alfalfa mash looks like horse manure:) but maresy is enthusiastic
I don’t have any of that on hand, but could order some.
I thought I saw him drink a little more of the tea on the cameras just now, but nothing is piquing his interest enough to have him guzzle it down. 
If I make his feed too soupy he will damn near drown himself, so maybe just having a bunch more of that in a shallow pan so he doesn’t aspirate it.
Yeah, I always think my horse’s soaked hay pellets look the same going in as they do coming out. 
Grey
here was mine from this afternoon
only my second time doing it, but i like doing it and they are fans too!
ingredients are senior feed, splash of apple cider, and this time i added a peppermint treat and cut up 2 apples… add hot water (not too hot) . my 6 year old makes quick work of it, my 27 year old nurses it for 30 mins or so
I know a horse who gave herself a sinus infection doing that, so I definitely recommend a shallow pan
Try some electrolyte pellets in his feed? That usually amps up the desire to drink.
I could try that, but I’m not sure what benefit it would have over loose salt.
@Simkie I texted my vet about the Epsom salts and he said it’s not for long-term use.
Idk why, people have been feeding epsom salts to horses for magnesium for forever, but pretty much any magnesium supplement will do the same thing. Magnesium oxide is cheap. Titrate up to the poop consistency you’re happy with.
I really expected this to have watermelon in it… just me?
ETA: I just realized this was for your older horse who was/is possibly not drinking enough…I hope he is doing ok! And maybe watermelon could be worth a try? It is delicious and good for hydration 
Good idea! He does love watermelon! He will eat anything, it’s just the drinking he’s not so keen on.
It’s easier for me to get electrolyte pellets into my horse than loose salt. I have to make the loose salt stick to his grain with oil.
If he won’t eat the pellets or loose salt, you can syringe dose powder electrolytes or salt in water. I’ve also used FinishLine and Farnam OTC electrolyte paste.
He eats the loose salt no problem!
Can anyone explain why the old retired horse who will survive the apocalypse immediately drains a 5-gallon bucket to get to a handful of grain at the bottom, but the young show horses would rather drink out of frozen puddles than consume any variety of tea? Sigh, horses…
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