How to get my horse to...?

Question

swim!!... my horse is only young. just been broken and i want to teach him to love the water. some suggestions??

Answer 1

that takes time and a trainer to help to make sure both horse and rider/owner are safe.

he's young, and the chances he knows nothing about water are high, and what they dont know about they're scared of.

i worked with a trainer when i took my horse to ky, to get him to ride thru water. but once he got it, he loved water, shortly after that i took him on trail thru a creek, it was deeper and wider then i remembered, and he liked it so much he wanted to roll in the water. lol. good thing i caught what he was trying to do b4 he did it, waterlogged saddle/clothing isnt fun to ride in.

anyway, best suggestion:have a trainer help.

Answer 2

First let him get used to small spots of water, like puddles and stuff like that. Then take him to a river. Don't make him get in it, just let him look at it and get used to the sound and how it moves. When he is calm, try to walk him in just a little. When he is good with that, take him to a lake or a calm day at the beach. Don't force him, some horses don't like water.

Answer 3

I haven't heard about anything like this before, perhaps horses aren't suited for water... or you could spray him with a hose

Answer 4

We just take ours to the river.  Because I know our river 'bottoms' I know where it is shallow, deep, fast, and VERY IMPORTANT if you are where other people are...you need to know that there are not broken bottles and other garbage on the bottom.

Ours are outstanding on a lead line.  They follow where we lead.  We walk into the shallows and have the horse follow.  I know where the horse only has to swim about 10 feet before their feet touch the bottom again.  I just swim ahead of them, leading them.  We also stand where we can reach and 'lunge' the horse around us.  The horse's 'circle' will take them into deeper water, then back to shallow when we are introducing them.

If you're leading and swimming...be aware of staying away from the horse's legs.  I swim backwards, and if the horse looks like he's coming towards me, I push myself off him and stay to the side.

like you were told by Jeff...NO TIE DOWN.  *I did that as a young teen, almost drowned the neighbor's horse*  Hate to admit it...but I did it...I was an idiot...

John is also right about sliding to the side of the horse.  That what we do whether bareback or with a saddle.

Answer 5

good answer Jeff but may i add to it.when you ride your horse into deep water you will want to slide off your horse to allow it to swim without your weight on its back.and swim next to your horse.let the horse have its head then when it can get footing again you slide back onto your saddle or the back of the horse.my horses are allowed to play in the retention ponds around the ranch(nice hard clay base) and when they play my pasture dogs are usually swimming with them.

Answer 6

At the beggining get him yoused to puddles and stuff then move onto a pool of water then a calm day at the beach but some horses like water and some dont so dont forse the cituation just if he goes in reward him and h**l want 2 go into water

Answer 7

Take them to streams and rivers.  It takes a few times before they will relax.  Have them follow other horses through.  Then let them stand and play in the water.  This is especially effective on hot days.

A few things to consider.  Do not let a hose spend too much time standing in water that is running, they can get dizzy and sick from it (vertigo, a type of motion sickness).  Second do not use a tie down on the head when you are crossing deep water.  You will drown your horse (I know an idiot who did that).