HELP FOR HORSE

DO HORSES LIKE WATER?

He doesn't like getting his feet wet - but is it wet feet he's really worried about?

Do horses like water? The short answer is - some do, most don't. A few positively revel in it. Swift, the dark bay pony here would take any opportunity to wallow in it on a hot day. A puddle of ground-water in his field would suffice.

Most horses have a healthy respect for water. It has nothing to do with not wanting to get their feet wet. Quite simply, they don't know what lies underneath the surface.

There could be predators, although it's unlikely that crocodiles feature in their racial memory. What bothers them is the footing. Water often lies over mud which can be thick and deep. Their fear is that their feet get stuck in mud and they won't be able to get out.

This fear is so deep that even a puddle on an otherwise hard surface is to be avoided if possible. You may have wondered why some horses kick up a monumental fuss about going through a puddle - even a small one. When a horse has a fear it is absolute. If going into water spells danger, then any water is potentially dangerous. From their point of view, they are only being sensible!

Another problem for horses in water is that they cannot gauge depth. In larger expanses, such as rivers, and of course, the sea, they have no idea how deep it's going to be. All horses can swim. Swimming however, is not a primary means of escape. Unlike on land, they are not fast and efficient in water. As they like to feel that they can run away at a moment's notice, the prospect of swimming can be quite terrifying.

That said, horses can be trained to go against their instincts. As often as not, the first introduction requires a great deal of persuasion but perseverance pays off. Then they turn round with a look of - what's all the fuss about?

Like everything we ask horses to do that goes against their basic nature, it's a question of getting used to it. When they get used to it, paddling is fine. They can still turn tail and run if the need arises.

If persuading horses to paddle is hard enough, persuading them to swim is even harder. There will always be a few that take to it, like Swift in the pond above. He would cheerfully go into any water anywhere and lie down, paddle or swim. He once swam across a lake of his own volition, because it was the quickest route to his bucket!

We mustn't assume however, that a horse that goes willingly into one stretch of water will go go just as sweetly into another. He may be just as suspicious of a puddle! Horses take each situation on it's merits. If they don't like the look of something, they avoid it.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.