All horses are born with the inherent natural ability to swim; it has been stated that horses’ ability to swim has evolved over the years spent in the wild. But it’s not difficult for horses to swim as they have a natural floatation device. Their large lungs. In the wild, horses needed to cross deep water to reach new grazing areas or flee from danger. If you go to the beach with your horse, the chances are low that you will see your horse swim, but that does not suggest they can not swim. Horses are excellent swimmers, although sometimes they require support and encouragement to enter the water.

How Horses Swim

Like humans, some horses are better at swimming than others, and some enjoy it more than others. The horse’s body will float in the water as long as it keeps a forward momentum while submerged underwater. While in water, the horses will paddle to maintain their balance and stability. Swimming can be compared to a horse trotting or cantering on land. They will impulsively keep their head above the water as they cannot breathe underwater. Still, they also have to ensure that water does not enter their ears due to the anatomy of them and if water enters, the horse may suffer from discomfort and develop an ear infection.

Horses Enjoyment of Swimming

Some horses may have had a bad experience with swimming and therefore may dislike the thought of swimming, but some may adore the idea of paddling and splashing in the water. There may be various reasons why a horse does not want to enter the water. Such as:

● They don’t like getting wet- some horses do not like the idea of getting wet, so, therefore, they will not jump into the water and enjoy themselves.
● Depth Perception- As horses have either eye on the side of their head, they cannot judge the depth of the water, as they are unaware, and this experience can be scary for the horses and cause distress.

Some horses adore paddling and rolling in the water as it brings them enjoyment and distressed them. As some horse may have had difficulties with relaxing, this is a perfect idea. Enjoying a physical activity releases the hormone endorphin, which triggers a positive feeling, allowing the horse to relax and feel relieved after a stressful day.

Benefits of Swimming

Swimming is one of the most valuable and beneficial aerobic exercises to engage the horse’s whole body at once. Swimming in pools or water also maintains the horse’s health as it prevents the horse from developing cardiovascular diseases or respiratory problems. It can also benefit a horse witch dealing with severe trauma or shock after sustaining an injury. Swimming can provide a range of other advantages to horses. Such as:

● Condition the horse- Conditioning the horse in water can improve its athletic performance as it improves muscle development and enhances the motion of the joints. Once the horse is familiar with the water, it will begin to enjoy the
water experiences. As water acts as a natural water buoyancy, it suggests that the horse’s body weight is supported, allowing muscles and tendons to move more freely.
● Rehabilitation– Most specialists recommend treating your horse with hydrotherapy if your horse has sustained leg, tendon or muscle injury. This is because there is no strain on the injured area, and it allows the horse to feel relief; it also helps accelerate the recovery process. Aqua therapy is not for all horses as horses with respiratory, drainage wounds, or surgical incision can not participate in aqua therapy due to the hydrostatic pressure decreasing
lung volume.
● Underwater Treadmills– Underwater treadmills are a form of rehabilitation; they require advanced engineering and effective treatment. There are two types of treadmills above ground and inground. Inground treadmills are
originated to be used by multiple horses at once. In contrast, above-ground treadmills adjust to the depth of the water based on the amount of pressure required for a horse and are used for single horses only. Treadmills also have
various ranges of temperature settings to suit the horse’s needs.
● Fitness– Swimming can enhance a horse’s fitness, endurance and stamina, but it can also improve flexibility and stride. The horse will work harder due to the resistance of the water, which helps to increase the capacity of the lungs
and the heart. It will also benefit your horse’s physical presentation as it will appear more toned and muscular.

How to prepare for swimming

It’s important that your horse has a good connection & partnership with you. Polework exercises can also help the horse become more agile & flexible. Whether your horse is going to the beach or an indoor facility it’s important your horse feels relaxed & confident in this new environment. We recommend this confidence building class.

Tracking your progress with your horse in an equestrian journal is also an excellent idea.

Safety Precautions

There are some safety precautions you have to follow to keep yourself and the horse safe when swimming. First and foremost is the amount of time the horse is spending in the water, as it can tire out quickly and lead to exhaustion. A ten-minute workout in the water can be equivalent to cantering for multiple miles. The following precaution is choosing an ideal there, as the water may be too cold or too stormy for the horse to enter the water. Forcing a horse to enter the water in bad conditions can negatively affect it as it can traumatise it and never want to splash in the water or attend hydrotherapy. One specific precaution to be aware of is that if you are riding your horse in the water, jump off it before it exits the water as it will begin to paw the surface. Also, when your horse is swimming with you on your back or not, ensure to take off any heavy objects to prevent the horse from being weighed down and possibly drowning. You should also consider the type of surface your horse will be swimming in, as rocky surfaces can damage and hurt the horse’s hoofs and cause severe injuries. A crucial safety precaution to keep in mind is to always bring
someone with you to a company where you swim with your horse to prevent any accidents.

Has your horse gone swimming? Let us know in the comments.