Keeping Summer Cool
Cooling your Horse
By Heather Dilts Baiano
From Rein, Summer 2010»
If you have ever ridden along the beach, enjoying the cry of the gulls, laughter of friends, and galloping horses, we’re certain swimming with your horse has crossed your mind. The lure of the gentle waves draw your eyes further out off the sandy beach. You eagerly aim your horse out to the shimmering horizon and urge him forward.
How do you encourage your horse to swim? Does swimming have any benefits to a horse? Are there dangers to such a venture?
According to research, relax, the benefits are endless.
Swimming with your horse can be a form of therapy. It increases circulation, and is a non-weight-bearing exercise. It relieves boredom that sets in for horses (and riders) while improving fitness, stamina, and muscle tone. For example. if a horse is on stall rest, he can still be taken out to swim. Ten minutes swimming for a horse is equal to one hour of schooling in a ring. The horse can stay in good physical condition while recovering.
Most of the muscles a horse uses they employ while swimming without impact that usually occurs on ground. There is no concussion or shockwave that travels through the legs and body, allowing muscles to work harder due to resistance, but limits potential injuries. (cont'd below)
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So, now just how do you get your horse to enter the water? Even if the horse seems interested in the waves, get them used to the idea gradually. A beach is good to start with because it gets deeper gradually. Try riding along the water first, or have a friend lead your horse by hand through the shallows. Slowly work your way deeper and deeper, gaining their trust. If your horse is still shy, don’t worry, sometimes the waves confuse them or startle them. You can always try backing them into the water. A few other ideas could be to lead your horse in yourself, or follow another horse into the water. It might take time, but most horses relax after a short while and enjoy it as much as you do. A word of caution, some horses decide to roll so be ready. When you are deep enough to swim, many people have said the horses seem startled when they cannot feel the ground beneath their hooves, but once they start swimming, they become calm and enjoy themselves.
For those who have hung on and got to the point where their horse is swimming, riders describe a feeling of ‘weightlessness,’ ‘floating,’ and ‘freedom.’ Overall swimming with their their horse, was one of the most memorable and wonderful experiences in their equestrian lives.
Laurel Gould, a long-time horse owner, remembers a special Morgan/Quarter Horse mare that she owned for the whole of her horse’s life. The pair usually spent their days on trails that spread over 80 acres of land, which included rivers that flowed through the woods.
Their swimming debut happened unexpectedly one day, as Laurel remembers, “I discovered Molly liked water when out riding one day. We approached a neighbor’s pond to get a drink, and she walked right in with me on her back and plunked down for a wee roll. Then she took off swimming with me in the saddle for the whole time! I was laughing so hard that I just let her do what she wanted!”
After that day the
pair would swim often, bareback, with only a lead rope on the halter.
Swimming is more than just an activity to keep in shape, or to simply
cool off on a hot day. It is an experience of partnership, and can
strengthen and already solid bond between horse and rider.
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