Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Swimming with horses (long)

About four years ago in Michigan we had one persondrown himself and 2 horses
unintentionally.  A couple, in their 40's, had decided to ride their horses
into a lake with a drop off, the horses both wore tie downs and as I
understand it, I was in the same park that day, both riders wore full
'western gear.' slickers, etc.

Anyway, they hit the drop off and the horses went down, but couldn't get
their heads above water because of the tie downs, apparently the man went
under to cut one of the tie downs and was knocked in the head by the
flailing horse.  The woman was rescued by two women, one a nurse, that were
riding near by and heard the struggle.  It was very sad watching the horses
pulled from the water, the guy was sapposedly a very experience trail rider.

C
----- Original Message -----
From: <DESERTRYDR1@xxxxxxx>
To: <larishea@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 12:37 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] Swimming with horses (long)


> 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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