Equine swimming, spa or aqua treadmill experiences?

slumdog

slumdog

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I jumped at Moulton College at the weekend and was browsing leaflets while waiting for my class to start and saw that they have these facilities. Has anyone ever done it? How was your experience and did you find any benefits for your horse?
 
I've just started taking my Welsh Cob (working adv med) swimming once per week for fitness after I've known a number of people have success from it. I would just make sure you go somewhere where they will teach the horse to swim properly i.e. not hollowing and building up the wrong muscle. I really like it as there is no strain on the legs/feet (and mine has had issues in the past) but will get them mega fit.
 
MillionDollar said:
I've just started taking my Welsh Cob (working adv med) swimming once per week for fitness after I've known a number of people have success from it. I would just make sure you go somewhere where they will teach the horse to swim properly i.e. not hollowing and building up the wrong muscle. I really like it as there is no strain on the legs/feet (and mine has had issues in the past) but will get them mega fit.
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That's just the sort of thing I'm looking for, he's an 18 year old grade A who originally came to me in really poor condition, he's in great body condition now but I want to built his fitness back up without putting strain on his legs like doing road work etc would. :) Was he worried about going in the first time he went?
 
I would be more inclined to use a water treadmill especially for an older horse that has never swum. It really makes them use their top line and it is easier to monitor if their muscles start to get tired.
 
I looked into this for mine and was swayed towards the water treadmill after friends experiences, it is really good for building top line so I'm told.
 
Mine have swam and been in a spa.

I think swimming is good if there is an injury which prevents galloping. I would be wary of swimming them too much or if it wasn't completely necessary though because they do swim in an unnatural way and my chiro wasn't overly thrilled by mine swimming. It was worth it for him though because he couldn't gallop enough after an injury.

I really like the idea of water treadmills but I don't have any experience. Mine have used the spa and will continue to do so. I love it and they have lovely cold and tight legs after using it.
 
I used a water treadmill with my then 4-year-old - it was really good, really built up her backend, wish we had one where we are now!
 
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