Going for a swim with a horse, do not forget about safety!

In this article, I want to share tips to help you enjoy safe bathing with your horse.

1. Find out about the features of the reservoir in which you plan to swim. This factor is perhaps the most important in terms of safety when bathing with a horse. If you don’t know what’s in store for you, you’re risking injury and putting your horse at risk. You should know about the features of the coast, the bottom (are there holes under the water, what is the bottom (silt, sand, rocky), about the properties of the current.

Keep in mind that the ground can be deceiving. Mud along the water line near a river or lake may be too deep and the horse may become frightened and panic. In lakes and rivers, fallen trees, stones, dangerous household waste, parts of equipment, etc. can be found underwater. Resist your own urge to explore the dark unknowns in the water.

2. Consider the nature of your horse and its relationship to the water.

If this is your horse’s first visit to the beach, let him get used to the place before pulling him into the water and asking him to swim. Even if your horse is in good physical shape, walking on water and swimming with a rider is a very energy-intensive activity, so pay attention to how the horse behaves. If you are swimming in deep water, allow the horse to hold his head as he feels comfortable – there is no need to ask him to yield in the jaw or poll! If you go to the sea on a hot day, think in advance about how you will provide the horse’s water needs (she will not be able to drink salt water).

3. Don’t take risks! Always be careful. If you do not know how strong the current is in the river, if it seems to you that the river is deep or fast, it is better not to go there.

4. Don’t swim alone! On the water, there may be situations where you or your horse will need emergency assistance. Make sure the stable knows where you are going and has an idea of your expected return time.

5. Check your ammo! Do not ride into the water if the horse is wearing a tether, tie-downs, or martingale. If you are leading the horse by hand, make sure that the reins or lead rope are not slack and that the horse cannot step into them with his foot and get tangled up in the water.

6. How to swim with a horse? Don’t go deep if you can’t swim. If you need to get off your horse at depth, stay away from his hooves. If you jump from a horse into the water, the safest place is at its side, do not swim up to the horse in front.

7. Watch to see if the horse wants to sway or lie down in the water. This is one of the oldest tricks: when you ride into a river and stop in shallow water, your horse starts digging in the water and, before you know what has happened, it abruptly lies down and starts rocking with you in the saddle! To prevent this, don’t let your horse dig in the water.

Anna O’Brien (source); translation Valeria Smirnova.

DM76 25th of June 2018
So many points, but the most important thing is not. You can’t swim while riding a horse! Only nearby, holding on to the mane. Otherwise, you can drown the horse. And the photo is conducive to this 🙁 Answer