Best Horse Water Buckets & Pails Reviewed & Rated for Quality
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Materials
Horse drinking buckets come in a few different materials so you will want to think about what sort of material you will want to make sure you get the bucket that is right for your needs. Many buckets are made of a strong plastic material. Plastic is a great choice because it does not corrode or develop rust which can help keep the water cleaner. It also allows the buckets to be lightweight so that it is easy to carry water to your horse as needed. Of course, plastic can break and since it is lightweight, it is easy for the horse to knock it over and spill the water out of the bucket.
Metal is the other common material that is used to make horse water buckets and is a widely popular choice. One of the main advantages that metal has over rubber is that it is more durable and is less likely to break than plastic. You can also get metal buckets in different thicknesses which means that they are not necessarily heavier than plastic buckets are either. However, metal can be prone to developing corrosion, including rust, which can contaminate your horse's water and make the water unsafe to drink. If you are looking at purchasing a metal horse water bucket, then you should consider looking stainless or galvanized steel to help it last longer. The final choice is rubber, although rubber tends to be used in more pan style buckets rather than buckets that you carry. Rubber doesn't rust or corrode and it is durable as well. Another advantage of rubber is that it is less likely to slide around as the horse drinks from it. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that you will find a handled bucket make of rubber so your options are limited.
Weather Resistance
Horse buckets are sold in unheated and heated versions which will provide you with some more choices. A heated bucket is useful in climates where you will experience below freezing temperatures and your horse's water can freeze during the cold season. Its main advantage is that it has a heating element built into the bucket that will warm the water and prevent it from freezing over when it is cold outside. This will help to make sure that your horse can still access its water even when the outside temperature is below freezing in the winter season.
Of course, most of the time you will not need a heated horse bucket because it won't be below freezing. A heated horse bucket costs more than a regular horse bucket because you are adding a heating element and a cord into the bucket. It is also possible for the heating element in a heated bucket to fail which will make the heated horse bucket into a regular horse bucket. You will also need to make sure there are no fire hazards near a heated horse bucket in case something goes wrong with the heating element or the cord.
For these reasons, you should only spend the extra money on a heated horse bucket when you actually need to have a heated bucket. If you live in climates where the temperature can get below freezing and there is a chance that your horse's water can turn into ice, then you will need to have a heated horse water bucket. Otherwise, you should save yourself some money and stick with a regular horse water bucket that is not heated since there is no real reason to have a heated horse bucket.
Size
Size and weight matter because it will determine how much water you can put into the horse bucket and how likely it is that the bucket will tip over when the horse is drinking out of it. A larger horse bucket can naturally hold more water than a smaller one, but this will mean that you will have to work harder to carry the bucket if you need to move a full bucket from one location to another when it's full of water. On the other hand, a smaller bucket is easier to carry but will need to be refilled more often because of its size.
There is also the matter of how often you should change the water in the bucket. Since a large bucket holds more water, you may be tempted to not change the water as frequently as you should. Horses are not clean animals and they will get dirt, spit, and straw into their drinking water which will introduce germs into the water and make them sick. A smaller bucket will force you to change the water on a more regular basis since you will need to keep refilling it more often anyway. On the other hand, a larger bucket will mean that you will need to check the water for cleanliness anyway.
If you want to use a single bucket to water multiple horses, then it is recommended that you purchase a larger horse watering bucket. In situations where you are only watering one horse at a time, then you will probably be better off using a smaller water bucket since it is easier to carry than a large bucket. If your horse is messy and likes to kick over their water bucket, then you can also use a larger and heavier bucket.
Stability
All animals are careless with their water at certain times and are likely to accidentally or deliberately spill their water bucket. This is a good reason why you will want to look at the bucket to see what sort of things it has to avoid spilling water. The more likely your water bucket is resistant to falling over and spilling, the longer your horse will have access to water. You can look at the size, shape, and features of the bucket to get an idea as to how likely it is to avoid getting tipped over and spilled by the horse or other livestock.
Some buckets are a pan style where they are wider than what they are taller. These are great to use when you are concerned about the water spilling because such buckets have a lower center of gravity and are therefore less likely to get tipped or knocked over accidentally by the horse. Many rubber pan style buckets feature this design and work great for horse stalls or similar applications. You can also look for buckets that have a flat back on them. A flat back will allow you to put a bucket firmly against a wall or a pole in the barn. Many people have some sort of a tie down they use on the bucket to secure it firmly to the wall so that the horse doesn't knock it over when it is in place. You will also see raised buckets that have hooks or mount off of the ground. Not only does this design help to keep the bucket in place but it will also help the water to stay clean while it is in the bucket since it is raised from the ground.
Bottom Line
The overall quality should also matter to you when you are picking out a water bucket for your horses. There are going to be more than a few times where you end up dropping your bucket or knocking it over by accident. Even if you can carry your bucket perfectly, chances are that your horse will at sometime knock the bucket over, step on it, or even kick it. Your bucket needs to be strong enough to not develop dents, cracks, or leaks in it when it happens. If you plan on carrying a bucket by its handles, then you will also need to make sure that the handles are strong and durable so that the bucket is supported while it is under a heavy load.
When you are picking out a bucket, you will need to make sure that the walls of the bucket are strong and thick. This will be different depending on the material that is used to make the bucket so a plastic bucket will normally need thicker walls than a steel bucket. You will need to make sure that the bucket is sealed completely and doesn't leak water as a leaking bucket will make a mess and doesn't really serve its intended function. When a bucket is made of steel, you have to make sure that it isn't getting rusty or corroded as this will contaminate your horse's drinking water and can make your horse sick. Plastic buckets should be made of food grade quality plastic so that toxins do not leak into the water from the plastic. You should never leave your buckets out in the weather whenever it is possible to do so, but you will also want to look for buckets that resist the weather so that they last longer.
Best Horse Water Buckets
1. Freegrace Premium Collapsible
Collapsible buckets can really come in handy for when you are on the go. For example, you can easily store such a bucket in a horse trailer or pack it with you when you are trail riding. The Freegrace Premium Collapsible is a great choice for when you need a highly portable horse water bucket to take along with you.
Bucket Lid
One of the challenges of carrying water in a bucket is that the water may splash as you move around. This bucket has a lid that will help make sure this doesn't happen.
Folding
You can fold this bucket down into a fraction of its size which makes it easy to store and take with you while you are traveling or even around the barn.
Cost and Value
You will see this bucket sold at a price that is slightly lower than the average price for a horse water bucket which makes it into an affordable option for a water bucket.
2. Little Giant Duraflex
Sometimes you need a bucket that you can rest against a wall or some other structure for stability. This is a great bucket for such a use case thanks to its flat back that will like you put it tight against a flat surface. You can easily fill this bucket without a hose since you can rest it against a wall.
Flat Back
The bucket has a flat back design which allows you to put it tight against a wall. This can be great if your water faucet is tight against a wall or another obstacle.
Heavy Plastic
The bucket is made from a heavy duty plastic material. This allows the bucket to be both strong and lightweight at the same time which makes it great for farm use.
Cost and Value
You will see this bucket sold at a price that is lower than the average price for a horse water bucket which makes it into a bargain purchase since you don't need to spend much on it.
3. Allied Precision Industries
People who live in colder climates may need to make sure that their horse's water doesn't freeze on them in the winter time. A heated bucket, such as this one made by Applied Precision Industries, is a great choice because it will keep the water from reaching freezing temperatures. This will keep ice from forming so that your horse can access water.
115 Watt Heater
The bucket has a heating element so that you can keep water from freezing. The product has been tested at temperatures that are as low as 20 degrees below zero so you can trust that your horse will have water.
Six Foot Cord
It has a cord that is six feet long and is protected so that the animal does not chew through the cord. This allows you to easily reach a power outlet.
Cost and Value
You will have to plan on spending more than the average price for this bucket. This is because it has electrical heating components that will keep your horse's water from freezing.
4. The Friendly Swede Collapsible
The Friendly Swede makes a collapsible bucket which is a great choice for when you are traveling or need something small to put in your horse trailer. The bucket offers great features such as a lid as well as a mesh pouch on the side where you can store small accessories with you as well making the bucket even more useful.
Mesh Pouch
There is a mesh pouch on the side of the bucket where you are free to store items that you may need to take care of your horse such as brushes or salt licks.
BPA Free
The plastic used to make the bucket is free from BPA so you will not need to worry about the water stored in the bucket to be unsafe for your horse to drink.
Cost and Value
This bucket is sold at a price that is around the average price for a horse water bucket which makes it into an excellent purchase for your barn or horse trailer.
5. Tubtrugs Flex Tub
Tubtrugs are a great horse water bucket to have around the farm because it has been designed to be in both summer and winter weather. You will not need to worry about this bucket breaking down when it sits out in the sunlight or gets exposed to harsh winter weather. The bucket is strong and long lasting which makes it great for watering horses.
Frost and UV Proof
Tubtrugs are made of a plastic that does not break down when it has been exposed to UV radiation from sunlight or getting exposed to frost in the winter months.
Food Grade Plastic
This bucket is made of a food grade plastic which makes it great for when you need to carry food or water to your horse since the plastic won't contaminate the contents of the bucket.
Cost and Value
You will see this bucket sold at an average price which is another great reason for you to use it for watering your horses since you won't have to spend too much on it.
6. Miller Little Giant Farm
Miller Little Giant Farm makes a plain bucket that holds eight quarts of water and has a handle. This is the perfect bucket to use when you need to bring water directly to your horse since it is large enough for the horse to drink out of it but isn't so large that it will become too heavy to carry when it's full.
Impact Resistant
There may be times when you lose your balance and drop your bucket on the ground when it's full or the horse may knock it over. Either way, this bucket is strong and flexible enough to resist such accidents.
Metal Carrying Handle
There is a carrying handle on the bucket that is made of metal which you can use to carry the bucket from one location to another. It's strong enough to carry the bucket when it's full of water.
Cost and Value
You will see this bucket sold at a price that is lower than the average price for a horse water bucket which makes it into a bargain buy for your barn.
7. Advance Pet Products Stainless
Stainless steel is the way to go if you require a heavy-duty horse water bucket that will resist breaking, rusting, and corroding. Metal buckets are best for whenever you need something that is heavy duty and long lasting which is why Advance Pet Products offers this round bucket. You can easily use this bucket to water horses as well as other livestock.
Stainless Steel
The bucket is made of stainless steel which is great for farm use because it is strong and durable. Stainless steel is also heavy and is less like to tip over.
Dishwasher Safe
The bucket is safe to use in the dishwasher which makes that it can be washed and sanitized as needed. This makes it great for when you need to make sure your horses have clean water.
Cost and Value
You will see this bucket sold at a price that is well above the average price for a horse water bucket due to the fact that it is made of high-quality stainless steel.
8. Miller Co Rubber Feed Pan
Sometimes a traditional bucket isn't ideal for watering horses because they are prone to get knocked over by the horse. Miller Co makes a feed pan that you can use the water your horses that is wide on the bottom and therefore less likely to get knocked over by the horse. This is a great choice for pens and horse stalls.
Pan Shape
The bucket is pan shaped so it is wider rather than taller. This makes the bucket less likely to get knocked over by the horse while they are drinking out of it.
Rubber
The bucket is made of a high-quality rubber material that is durable and long-lasting. Rubber is heavier and less likely to move around while the horse is drinking from it.
Cost and Value
You will see this product sold at a price that is much lower than the average price for a horse water bucket which makes it into a great value for the money.
9. Flagline Miller Co Galvanized
Sometimes it is easier on your horses when they don't need to lean all of the way down to drink their water. This waters can be attached at any height by using lag bolts or other similar hardware which makes it a great horse water bucket to put into a stall or other location allowing your horses to drink easier and keep the water clean.
Galvanized metal
The bucket is made of galvanized steel metal which resists corrosion and rusts and helps it to last for long periods of time without leaking, corroding, or getting dented.
Install at any height
Water buckets that are placed on the ground can get dirt and straw in the horses drinking water which can make the horses sick. This water bucket can be installed at any height to help the water stay clean.
Cost and Value
You will see this product that is sold at a price that is much higher than the average price due to it being made of galvanized steel which is long lasting.
10. QT Dog
Qt Dog makes a stainless steel bucket that has a flat side with hooks. This is a great bucket to use around the barnyard because you can easily carry water and then hook the bucket to a stall which will keep it from getting knocked over when the horse drinks from it. The fact that it is stainless steel will mean that it is long lasting.
Hooks
There is a pair of hooks on the flat side of the bucket which you can use to hook the bucket to the horse stall, fence, or some other surface.
Dishwasher Safe
This bucket is safe for the dishwasher which means that you can wash and sanitize this bucket when you need to make sure that the horses have clean drinking water.
Cost and Value
You will see this bucket sold at a price that is around the average price for a horse water bucket which turns it into an excellent value since you get a high-quality product without spending much.
Sources
- Equine Hydrations, Website ,
- Bucket, Website ,
- Why Stainless Steel is Stainless, Website ,
- Identify Food Grade Buckets, Website ,