The signs are everywhere.
The South Florida Water Management District (www.sfwmd.gov) reported that
How do water restrictions affect equestrians?
"There is a broad provision in the order
that exempts the use of water for public health and safety," water
district spokesman Jesus Rodriguez said. "I would classify the washing of
your horse as a safety and sanitation issue.
"Another provision pertains specifically to
livestock, although horses aren't really considered livestock," he
continued. "Livestock water use is to be voluntarily reduced. There are no
specific restrictions on the use of water for livestock. We encourage voluntary
water restrictions, but I would say it is allowable for the safety of the
animal."
According to Rodriguez, equestrians are allowed
to be slightly more liberal with their water use when a lack of hydration would
affect the well-being of their horses. What must be kept in mind, however, is
that the drought is serious and it is up to all residents to remain vigilant
and practice conservation. For example, when you wash your horse, try to do it
over land instead of pavement, so that the water gets absorbed back into the
soil instead of washed away into the storm drain.
There are health concerns for horses in a drought
situation.
Horse and Hound Magazine (www.horseandhound.co.uk) advises
horse owners trying to prevent sand colic to keep hay nets in paddocks where
the grass has been worn away. They should be tied high enough to keep the
horse's legs from getting entangled. Be sure to provide plenty of hay to ensure
"gut mobility."
Although people are concerned that their lawns
and paddocks are not getting enough water, Rodriguez pointed out that lawns
don't need nearly as much water as one might think. In fact,
watering more than once a week might be doing your lawn a disservice.
"Your lawn should not be watered more than
once a week, even under the dry spell that we've seen in recent months,"
Rodriguez said. "We tend to water every day or three times a week. What
you're doing is conditioning your lawn to develop shallow roots because it's
used to getting water that is readily available. If you water your lawn once a
week, you condition your lawn's roots to dig down deeper and develop a lawn
that is much more tolerant of dry conditions. We get 50 to 60 inches of
rainfall a year. With that amount of rainfall, your lawn only needs to be
watered five to twenty times a year."
The bottom line: Equestrians are allowed a slight
leeway to wash their horses and keep their paddocks from drying out. The
privilege should not be abused. People who are under the mistaken impression
that they can water their lawns and riding arenas every day and just keep
paying the fines after being cited for violations should be forewarned: Just a
handful of repeat offenses can land you in deep trouble.
"It's up to the individual. If they don't
care about receiving a fine every couple of days, that's their prerogative.
Ultimately, that person could be asked to appear in court if there are a series
of repeat violations. Should that person fail to appear in court, we're talking
about another set of problems for that water user."
In the end, the drought is a problem for all
equestrians, from the backyard horse enthusiast to the big show barns.
Hopefully, the drought will ease with the start of the rainy season. All
equestrians can do is keep a watchful eye on their horses and do their best to
conserve.