Help, my horse is obsessed with water !

[Tadah]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post so please bear with me

I have a 3 yr old (4 in April) gypsy cob, I have had her for around 7 months, she wasn't very well treated in her previous home, she was backed very very early and was very thin and generally quite fed up with the world. I decided to turn her away for the winter and start gentle hacking with her in the summer. Well she has thrived she is has grown, filled out and seems very happy. She is quite full of herself at the moment, we are working hard on her ground work, but it's as though she has turned into a terrible teen

However I have quite a big problem and I am not sure what to do. She is absolutely obsessed with water, she even stands in the automatic water troughs in the field, just put's her feet in it and stands there with a dopey look on her face. However there is a lake at the livery yard and we are having huge problems keeping her out of it. She will walk through electric fencing, she has broken through post and rail fencing and jumped it (yes cobs can jump !!!) she walks to the side of the lake and glides in like a huge swan.........She is calmer when she is turned out with a companion in the paddock with her, she just stands with her feet in the trough ! It's not everyday she is doing it, there doesn't seem to be a pattern. My worry is the banks are steep, she has a heavyweight rug on and the water level is quite high at the moment. I am terrified she will get stuck and drown if no one is around to catch her in the act. It turns out in her previous home she was taken to a reservoir and taught to swim round it.

I have other horses at the yard, it's the most perfect yard for us and I don't want to move, but if I can't ensure her safety then I will have to.

I am just hoping someone has any tips or advice on how to stop the water being such a draw for her, or another way of managing it ? Before I have to look for somewhere else

Thanks for reading and sorry it's an epic first post !

 

[ThePony]

I wonder if she is cooling her feet, rather than wanting to play with the water since you mention her standing with her front feet in the trough?
Are her feet warm, any digital pulses, what is her weight and diet like? - Any chance she could have low grade lami?

 

[ladyt25]

Hmm, a very weird habit she has got in to and I wouldn't know where a horse would get this sort of behaviour from although some do seem to love water whereas others hate it.

I would suggest getting some high posts and electric fencing and ensuring the elctric is giving enough power so it gives her a big enough zap! Failing this, and depending on the size of the field she is in, is it possible to construct a safe 'pond' or 'paddling pool' in the field so she can get her fix but isn't at risk of injuring anyone incluing herself?!

 

[Tadah]

Hi

Her feet are great, she is barefoot, her feet are cool and she is on a mollasses free diet. The farrier has just been and thinks she has fantastic feet, hasn't detected any problems at all. Because she seems to be "good doer" she has always been grazed in what we refer to as the starvation paddocks. She has a nice covering of flesh but she isn't fat.

She just really really likes water, in her stable she has her head in the water trough not drinking it just putting her in it and swilling it round. Daren't take her to the beach, we would end up in America !

 

[Tadah]

Hmm, a very weird habit she has got in to and I wouldn't know where a horse would get this sort of behaviour from although some do seem to love water whereas others hate it.

I would suggest getting some high posts and electric fencing and ensuring the elctric is giving enough power so it gives her a big enough zap! Failing this, and depending on the size of the field she is in, is it possible to construct a safe 'pond' or 'paddling pool' in the field so she can get her fix but isn't at risk of injuring anyone incluing herself?!

Thanks for your reply,

The paddock she is in is quite big, but it's used for the local riding association shows from time to time so I doubt I could construct a pond, though it will probably be a good compromise. I could ask if I could raise the fencing and try and get a stronger zap, if she goes near it, she has just ploughed through it though in the past.
It's a bizarre habit though, she thoroughly enjoys the swimming unfortunately her mum doesn't !

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

You mentioned that she is in a heavy weight rug. I don't know what part of the country you are in, or if she is clipped, but right now it is 10C and my boys have no rug, only a med weight one on at night, and they are not clipped.

Cobs (generally) don't feel the cold so much. Maybe she's just hot!

 

[ladyt25]

You mentioned that she is in a heavy weight rug. I don't know what part of the country you are in, or if she is clipped, but right now it is 10C and my boys have no rug, only a med weight one on at night, and they are not clipped.

Cobs (generally) don't feel the cold so much. Maybe she's just hot!

This is a good point - my 25 yo pony has a neck and belly clip but has been totally rugless for the past couple of days and nights due to the warm weather. Our 28 yo TB has been rugless too and has been suffering with very itchy skin (he has rubbed bald in places) We have treated for lice as a precaution but feel the problem may just be caused by the warm weather and them getting too hot.

Even my practically fully clipped horse is not in his usual heavyweight rug as he would be at this time of year as he hates being too hot.

 

[Tadah]

We are on the marsh's down south and it's generally a few degree's cooler here, it's showing at 6 degrees at moment, she is clipped, but I suppose she could be just hot....

I may try her in a lighter weight rug and see if she settles down when she is turned out, thank you for the suggestion

 

[ThePony]

We are on the marsh's down south and it's generally a few degree's cooler here, it's showing at 6 degrees at moment, she is clipped, but I suppose she could be just hot....

I may try her in a lighter weight rug and see if she settles down when she is turned out, thank you for the suggestion

I would agree with the suggestion that they might just be rather hot then - I know every horse is an individual, but both of ours (one hotter and one a v delicate flower!!) would be absolutly cooking in that. Def try thinner, or even no rugs for the non clipped ones?

 

[C&C]

My old boy loves water to, prob not to the extent that yours does, he doesnt stand in his trough but if there is a pond or big puddle in field he'l be in it exploring!!

On XC i was the one having probs getting my horse OUT of the water complex not in it!!!! ha ha

 

[giddyupalfie]

Daren't take her to the beach, we would end up in America !

Haha, bless her!! That made me chuckle my shetland mare loves water too...but not quite as much as your girl by the sound of things haha x

 

[Super_Kat]

Friends dad had a horse he was told was obsessed with water on loan. He'd schooled it at home then hacked down to the quay to cool off. It was high tide, the horse took one look at the water, bolted and jumped off the quay with him on board...... He can't swim but thankfully stayed on board
I think some horses just LOVE the stuff