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Hi, Lari,
That's great advice. I've never tried to
teach a horse to swim, but I am familiar with horses who already like it.
Once they do, you can float off their rump and hold their tail while they swim,
pulling yourself back up on their back when they begin to touch
land.
One thing to beware of, in my experience, is how
disoriented I used to feel when we trotted and galloped on the firm sand near
shore. The waves flowing in and out can rob you of your sense of where you
are in relation to shore.j
Dyane
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 5:36
PM
Subject: [RC] Swimming with horses
(long)
I've had two new articles published this past month, one in
Horse and Rider Magazine, and the other on "Equisearch Online". Thought
you might enjoy reading one.... as I'm sure you can relate to the subjects.
Here's the one from Equisearch, which is illustrated by the photo of Kate,
from Russia, on our black Arabian stallion, Shiraz, Cynthia on the Orlov,
Halloween, and Ron on the Orlov and Pan Am finisher, Nikita:
Swimming
with Horses:
One of my personal favorite photos shows my Arabian,
Gabriel, and me galloping deep in the surf, looking like free spirits.
However, it took me twenty minutes to get Gabe into the ocean for that photo.
Smart horse! Most horses see no good reason to enter the ocean........there is
nothing to eat there, they can't drink the water, and they would be hindered
escaping from predators while running in water. And at our Northern California
location, the water temperature is only in the high 50's, year round. However,
some horses seem to want to head for China the first time they are introduced
to the ocean.
Not a good idea.....since about one in ten horses sinks
instead of swims when initially immersed in deep water. However, if you have
always dreamed of swimming with your horse, introduce deep water gradually,
and teach your horse to perform this new task as thoughtfully as you would any
performance endeavor. The company of a mellow companion ridden by a friend
experienced with ocean swimming would be a real asset. Choose a warm day when
the surf is calm. For safety, ride bareback and barefoot. (Soaked saddles and
boots might weigh both of you down.) To begin, keep close to the shallows in
firm sand footing, letting your horse get used to waves slapping against his
legs and then belly. He'll likely "passage" when you ask for trot in shallow
water, as the extra effort to pull his hooves out of the trappy footing will
result in exaggerated leg action. Practice riding parallel to the beach, in
both directions, to acclimate both eyes to the ocean side and land side views.
Also practice riding both into and out of the surf at right angles to the
beach, so your horse knows which way to head for dry land. In localities with
strong swells, rip tides and back flow, a horse with his body broadside to the
ocean can literally be swept off his feet......choose a safer venue by asking
locals or rangers for recommendations. Beware of submerged rocks, driftwood or
forests of seaweed. Find a place where there is not a shallow shelf which
drops off precipitously into deep water.....remember, we want all changes to
happen gradually.
When your horse is in belly deep water parallel to
shore, there will come a moment when the next wave floats him. Steer him
towards shore, so just a few "dog paddles" will get him back onto firm
footing. If he seemed to enjoy the experience, take another diagonal track
back into deeper water, letting him swim for 15 -20 seconds. Be careful not to
let back flow carry your swimming steed further away from shore. Horses get
quite used to swimming in the ocean, and some do actually seem to enjoy it. .
Stay on the top of or beside your swimming horse, floating above him holding
his mane to stay connected. If you get in front of or under him, a paddling
hoof can quite easily break your leg. Don't use the reins as a tow
rope.......keep most slack out, and be careful not to let them wind around
your wrist (or neck!). Although horses which are swum in an equine
exercise pool may build up to half hour sessions, with tide and wave action,
your horse will tire after 5 to 10 minutes in the ocean. Build up one minute
each swim.
Horses also sometimes become "sea-sick" when first
introduced to ocean riding next to surging wave action. They stagger and sway
as the waves come in and out. One friend, treating her Grand Prix level
stallion on a beach ride, had him faint underneath her when they were belly
deep. Luckily, horses float; she held his nose above water and floated him to
shore like an ungainly canoe. As soon as his body hit firm ground, he got up,
shook himself off, and looked quite chagrined.
Once you and your horse
have mastered this new game, the next thing is to get someone down on the
beach to take your picture!
Lari
"What unites us all is a
love of the out-of-doors, a spirit of adventure, and a passion for
horses!"
Lari
Shea http://www.horse-vacation.com
Ricochet
Ridge Ranch 707-964-7669 ranch phone
24201
North Highway One 707-964-9669 home office ph/fax
Fort
Bragg, CA 95437
Riding
Vacations on the Mendocino Coast
with lodging at
unique B&B
Inns
International Riding Vacations
Akhal Teke and Russian Orlov/cross
horses for
sale
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