horses and water

Today I trailered my mare to a friends house who has a large pond. After a good ride we decided to cool off the horses in the water. Now this was the first time I had taken foxy (my mare) anywhere near water so I was hesitant. I took her in with just a halter and lead and she loved it! She was laying down in the shallows and splashing the water everywhere. Well there's a point off shore where the bottom drops off to 15feet deep. Foxy found that point and was swimming like a champ, and kept going back to the drop off. What really surprised me is when she decided to swim across the pond. She took off, I panicked and tried pulling the lead while swimming the other way, unsuccessfully I might add. Well she swam well over 50 feet to the other shore, then jumped back in and came back to me.
Everyone was very surprised that a horse could be such a good and confident swimmer. Does anyone else have good swimming horses? I would love to hear your stories!!!

Wow that's awesome!

Sky hasn't swum yet but he LOVES playing with the hose :)

Going swimming tomorrow so I'm going to find out. He likes wading, I hope he likes swimming add much as much as yours though!
Posted via Mobile Device

Lol my mare hates the hose! But loves to swim..... She's odd :)

my dogs love our pionds but hates hoses or buckets with water...

My QH loved to walk down a stream a few years ago and when we had a pond in their pasture he loved to go in with his friend and splash and lay down in it. And he loves hoses! My moms horse hates everything about water. Is okay with hoses but freaked when we wanted to get over a 4 inch stream wide...

I love taking my horses swimming too. Out of 9 - 8 make really good swimmers and enjoy it especially in the summer to cool of, but my paint mare is not good at all, she panics and she has really small feet for her weight, so I guess that does not help them to stay over water :0) It is so awesome if you are able to take your horse swimming. One of my favorite things to do! So guess your next step will be swimming with you on top of the horse! Happy to hear that your horse loves the water, it is such a different experience for you and the horse!

I'm worried my mare wouldn't be able to swim with me on her! Lol I've been considering getting a pond dug for our pasture now :)

Bnayc, I absolutely LOVE your story! I've never been swimming with a horse or even watched one swim in "real life"! You are so lucky! I wish there was some way to do that in Tucson, Az, especially in the summer! Aww...I'm very envious!! :0)

You guys will have a wonderful new pastime together now! And for others...I definitely ALSO WANT to hear other horse/swimming stories!! Please keep 'em coming!! :0)
Posted via Mobile Device