主题：【原创】饮马出长城——简述贞观外战史（二）西方篇( -- 森林鹿

the horses can eat snow. Snow is cold and wet. However snow does not contain very much water. One foot of snow equals about an inch of water. The melting of snow into water takes energy. The average horse needs 8 gallons of water, about 1 cubic foot of water, or roughly 13 cubic feet of snow per day.

The energy needed to melt snow comes from the food the horses eat, usually requiring up to an additional 3 pounds of high quality alfalfa hay or equivalent. These calories would be required each and every day.Increased hay consumption will require even more water than when temperatures are mild. ……Remember snow is made of water but it is not a substitute for water. Animals require good, clean, and liquid water for proper digestion, good health, and colic prevention.

An average horse will drink approximately 55 liters (about 12 gallons) of water a day in the warmer temperatures but may reduce his water intake in the winter. If a horse does not have a supply of water available to him he will eat snow, causing them to lower their core temperature, which can make them more susceptible to the cold. Horses will also not get enough water from snow.