Play Pool for Your Horses

[PeteyPie]

The thread on stock tanks had me looking at photos of tanks on the Tractor Supply site and wondering about making a play pool for my mare who loves the water.

If I won the lottery, I’d build a fancy shallow pool with a filter, pump, waterfall – the works. Since I haven’t won the lottery, and since my lame attempt at putting a cheap kiddie pool in the pasture was met with disinterest, I gave up that idea quickly. But the idea resurfaces from time to time.

Has anyone purchased a stock tank for such a purpose? I am mindful of that photo which circulated a while back of a big draft colt cast in a water trough, so I am leery about getting something within that size range where the horse could think about lying down but might cast itself.

What about this one? It is eight feet in diameter, which seems generous:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/american-farmland-round-plastic-tank-8-ft-x-2-ft?cm_vc=-10005

Do you think that would be safe? Would it be sturdy enough for a pawing horse?

[downen]

I would expect they might climb inside, and then I would worry about the bottom being too slippery.

[mjs8]

Every year or two we buy a 10’ diameter inflatable pool from Walmart lol. Only the top ring is inflatable, sides compress or fill based on height of the water (we usually fill between 2 and 3 feet) and the bottom seems to have a slight texture so it never feels slick. I think they run perhaps $50. If they pop the upper inflatable rim, it doesn’t bother me too much as it would if they try to roll on a tank with plastic sides that could break or crack. One pool usually lasts us 2 seasons or so. The horses seem to get a kick out of it. My 17h tb seems to like it the most - like he takes it as a personal feather-in-his-cap that he has conquered and splashed all over that scary blue thing. :lol:

[PeteyPie]

Thanks mjs8! I’m glad I’m not the only one who likes this idea. I’m impressed that the pools last a couple of seasons. Do you deflate it in the fall and refill it the next summer? Also, are you talking about something like this?:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Intex-10-x-30-Easy-Set-Pool-Set/20421797?action=product_interest&action_type=title&beacon_version=1.0.2&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&client_guid=1a2dbc69-7f95-425a-8532-091a344a5040&config_id=106&customer_id_enc&findingMethod=p13n&guid=1a2dbc69-7f95-425a-8532-091a344a5040&item_id=20421797&parent_anchor_item_id=26838788&parent_item_id=26838788&placement_id=irs-106-t1&reporter=recommendations&source=new_site&strategy=PWVUB&visitor_id=bvPSDXN56-uF-65xq4-e8g

There is also an 8-foot-diameter pool of the same brand for around $50 so I’m wondering if that is the size you usually get?
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Intex-Recreation-56970E-8-Foot-x-30-Inch-Easy-Set-Pool/26838788?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=364&adid=22222222227018399852&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=52345166775&wl4=pla-79441455135&wl5=9031606&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=111838742&wl11=online&wl12=26838788&wl13=&veh=sem