The health and wellbeing benefits of spending time on or around horses is well documented; it’s a great form of exercise, it’s time spent in the fresh air; it’s fun; and for many, it’s a love affair that starts at a very early age, with childhood ponies becoming genuine friends that are remembered forever. Adults who ride, will also enjoy an uptick in general health as they exercise and care for these gentle giants. The role of horses in therapy is also hugely beneficial, and for the disabled community, horses give a sense of freedom and accomplishment. Even the act of grooming is a much-valued activity, enjoyed by both the horse and the person providing the grooming.
Indeed, we are a nation surrounded by horses, and it’s easy to see why, but this lifestyle choice is a huge undertaking in terms of looking after the animal’s welfare… and for those who didn’t know, even water temperature is key to keeping your horse healthy and happy…
Rinnai continuous flow water heaters are installed at equine sites across Britain providing comfortable cleaning conditions on or off the gas grid.
There is an equine population of over 700,000 in the UK with a small fraction of that devoted to commercial horse racing, known as the ‘Sport of Kings’, at courses across the British Isles. The racing horses account for less than 20,000 of that population – but all horses need correct attention in terms of routine, feeding & nutrition, exercise, grooming and animal welfare – which includes keeping them clean.
And horses are big business – the whole market is estimated to be worth £8 Billion with just £3 Billion being the value of the sports racing industry.
Keeping horses clean and groomed is extremely important and all equine stables and farms give great attention to hygiene and for this they need copious and ready flows of temperature controlled hot water. Chilly water can be extremely uncomfortable for the horse, so owners need to make sure the water is warm enough for the horse’s comfort and tolerance. The ideal water temperature for bathing a horse is around body temperature (this can range between 37.2°C to 38.5°C (99.0°F to 101.4°F), something around 37°C would be ideal.
“The above temperatures are near set points within the Rinnai water heater range of products, so this is a real differentiation to any other type of hot water delivery at a commercial stables or equine centre,” says Peter Seddon for Rinnai.
It should also be noted that recent studies by Pennsylvania University in the US show that horses also preferred to drink warm (66 degrees F), not cold (32-38 degrees F). This is a critical part of well-being. Horses, also, can be prone to stomach illnesses – colic. Increasing water consumption can decrease the likelihood of this so keeping a horse properly hydrated is key to avoiding colic.
Many stables have installed Rinnai hot water heating units for instant volumes of accurately controlled hot water systems – many are powered by LPG and prepared for renewable liquid fuels either through bottles or bulk tanks.
One stable that houses over one hundred racehorses recently installed a Rinnai system. The stables instant access to a water heating system that provides clean, temperature controlled hot water on demand. The Rinnai system can happily deliver over one thousand litres per hour and even more if the system is manifolded.
Rinnai Hot Water Heaters are “A Rated” for energy efficiency and offer temperature control at the push of a button. Rinnai’s innovative Water Heater technology is a convenient option for the domestic, equine, and agricultural sectors.
The stables owner commented, ”We are incredibly happy with the new Rinnai system as the old one had had its day. Now we get continuous flow, I turn a tap on and we have temperature accurate hot water 
straight away. The system is fast, effective clean and easy.”
Rinnai’s Water Heating technologies are ideal for equine businesses that require access to temperature accurate hot water that ensures complete on-site hygiene. Cost effective and operationally efficient Rinnai Water Heating technology can also be used in multiple applications and sites, whether the property is domestic, commercial or off-grid, Rinnai can supply an innovative solution for your property’s requirements.
