Re: [RC] Swimming with horses (long) - DESERTRYDR1
I have to comment on all the great advice you gave in your article. The same
idea (slow introduction) should also go for introducing your young horse to
wading in water. A guy was killed in our area a few years ago because he
forced a three year old gelding that had two weeks under saddle into the
Columbia River, near a boat ramp. The horse got in too deep, panicked, and
went under.
Nobody who knew the guy's "training" techniques blamed the horse for his
death. It was in the early winter, and the river, which is normally pretty
cold was probably around 40 degrees. He didn't know how deep the water was
where he went in, and he went in wearing full winter "cowboy" wear, boots,
heavy clothing, a cowboy hat, and a big western saddle, etc. He had to force
the horse into the water because he was one of those "I'll show you who's the
boss" guys, and once the horse refused, he was gonna get it in the water no
matter what.
After he was killed, his kids were going to put the horse down. Luckily it
didn't belong to him, and the owner waited a while before he made any
decisions about what to do with the horse. I saw it the other day, and it is
the sweetest, most gentle broke-to-death horse. But then he let someone
else, a very gentle rider, finish it's training.
On a lighter note, my mare will get in fast water at a stream crossing and
get almost hypnotized by watching the water run if I don't watch it. The
first time it happened was at a ride. I let her stand in the water, about
knee deep, because she acted like she wanted to drink more. I could feel her
getting dizzy and starting to sway under me, so I urged her out of it. jeri
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