Hi, I wrote a question earlier about my horse being to small for me. Well just to let you know my horse is in fact a pony, she is 14.1 hands. Im a little too big for her but my riding school is getting a new horse next month so I will be transferred over to the horse.
We are going swimming with our horses this weekend. I am looking foward to it but am a little nervous at the same time. I was checking it up on the net and I read that it can be dangerous for you and for the horse. It said that when you get to deep water, that you have to lift off the horses back and trail your legs out behind you. It said that you can not stay seated on the back because you might start to drown the horse. Is this true? Im abit nervous because my mount is actually a pony not a horse and im worried that i might be too heavy and drown the pony. Last week my instructor said that I would be fine. But im still a bit aprehensive.
2007-03-22 00:25:59 · 5 answers · asked by sandra c 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I've had two experiences taking horses into deep water. First time was in Jamaca with polo ponies- absoluety awesome! The second time was on my 17 hd horse that was ALWAYS apprehensive about water jumps.
I learned from my Jamaca experience that it is VERY difficult to actually sit on the horse while the horse is in wither deep water. The rushing water, as the horse "propels" himself is enough to unseat even the strongest rider. I found it best to let go with my legs and hang onto the neck strap. I felt a little uneasy, but I finally kept my horse in the shallower end of the beach because it felt better for me.
My second time on my horse was fun too. It was a trail ride followed by a swim with our horses.. it was a party on horseback! Dee, my horse didn't want to go into the water at first, but with 10 other little ponies entertaining themselves in the wither deep pond, I was fianlly able to coax him into the pond. We had lots of fun, but I can't say that we swam. It was more wading than swimming.
You will have lots of fun. If you're apprehensive the least bit, I would suggest that you try wading with your pony. If that goes well, then you can venture our a little deeper and give your pony a couple of seconds of swimming. If you feel that your pony is going under because of you, just let your body float and hang onto a neckstrap, AND STEER FOR THE SHORELINE!
You'll have fun!
I read the other posts. If your instructor wants to take you to a river, where the depth is unperdictable and where the water is moving, then I would stay VERY close to shore. It could be very dangerous heading out in rushing water.
I think that as long as you are with other experienced horse people, on a good pony, and going to a "tried and true horse swimming body of water," then you should be JUST FINE. In fact, it should be FUN! I would highly doubt that a good instructor would take her students to a dangerous river to swim their horses.
2007-03-22 03:35:46 · answer #1 · answered by Sylves 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is perfectly ok to go swimming with horses, however if bareback it is very hard to actually stay on the horses back, so what you are hearing about trailing your legs is actually for YOUR benefit.
--You should always swim parallel to shore just beyond the area where you horse can touch the bottom. This way should the horse become tired they can quickly reach the ground. ALSO keep in mind that 10 minutes swimming is equivalent to about an hours schooling for a horse.
--Look for a solid, non-slippery area to enter and exit the water when crossing bodies of water that require the horse to swim. Stay in the center of balance on the horse since slipping backwards can hamper the horses hindquarter thrust which affect their swimming action. To allow for proper breathing and balance in the water the horses head should always be free.
*If your pony is strong and has been swimming before, you should be fine, however if you are too big for her i would advise against it, especially if the water is going to be really deep-- you should be at least 99% confident. Have trust in your instructor but also listen to yourself and if you aren't confortable with the situation dont push it.
2007-03-22 11:25:41 · answer #2 · answered by Sarah C- Equine Help 101 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes this is true......in fact, I've had a person who rode with me on a trail and we had to cross a river, and not a small one either. well as we were crossing, i got of my horse as i realized that it was deeper than expected. and i him to do the same,but, he refused and kept going. now his horse was a fine Morgan, and she struggled to keep her head above water, he hadn't noticed a thing and kept her going, but i did. i love horses and i couldn't let her die. I threw him off of her and tied her reins to my horses reins to re-ensure that she'd be okay, well that started to pull my horse under as well, so i grabbed the reins of both horses and held them high in the air so their heads would stay above water. we almost lost the horses that day, but I'm very grateful we didn't. When you think that the water is as deep to were your horse as no footing or little footing,get off. if you do that, you'll be fine. You or your instructor or the person that is going with you can decide when to dismount. you will be fine.
2007-03-22 07:46:18 · answer #3 · answered by Samantha A 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I definitely think you should be apprehensive about swimming with your pony especially if you think you are to big for it. You might want to pass this one up for yours and the horses sake.
2007-03-22 09:08:43 · answer #4 · answered by Cowgirl8 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no offense,but you're instructor might be wrong on that one, i would be a bit nervous too, i mean even if you trail your legs they could get tangled in the horse;s legs...
2007-03-22 08:31:07 · answer #5 · answered by Rose Wallace Goldaline 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋