How do I get my horse in water!!

[SophW1898]

Looking for some advice!
My horse will not go in a water complex when out cross country!
Any other fences he’s super brave but water he just plants and you cannot get him to move.
Would like to do some low level eventing next year but feel like it’s pointless if he won’t go through water

 

[ycbm]

What have you their tried so far?

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Get your wellies on I’ve had to take mine in and lunge them into and out of it. I also do lots of puddle work when I find them.

I’m going to have to do it with Faran at some point but not this year I don’t think

 

[SophW1898]

Get your wellies on I’ve had to take mine in and lunge them into and out of it. I also do lots of puddle work when I find them.

I’m going to have to do it with Faran at some point but not this year I don’t think

I’ve tried getting off and standing in the water! Tried someone else walking through in front of him, also with them holding a carrot to try and entice him
He’s literally just a dead weight and will not move!

 

[Parrotperson]

try

follow another confident horse in walk. if he follows do it repeatedly (I once went in and out of water for a good 40 minutes. first in walk then graduated to trot) Do Not try and jump him in at any stage.

lunge in and out if he lunges ok

leading him in but make sure you have gloves, a hat and a long line on just in case (same for lunging)

take an instructor you trust with you.

Once he's going in ok in walk (and maybe trot out of the water) take him home. Keep doing this and eventually he'l accept it and you can try small steps down from trot into it and eventually a small jump.

 

[planete]

Put on a sturdy pair of wellies and wait in the water for him to join you. Do not try and make him. It only took me 45 minutes (!) of waiting to get my then two year old to admit defeat and come through but he never ever refused after that. Just stay relaxed and it will happen. Do not have helpers, do not have distractions and treats. Just wait.

 

[ycbm]

Will he step in puddles when you hack?

 

[Parrotperson]

Will he step in puddles when you hack?

I rode (for someone) a ex eventer. Not high level but experienced. jump in and out of water all day long. Hack and walk in a puddle? No chance.

 

[Snow Falcon]

You have to find as many puddles, low level streams, rivers, paddling areas as possible. Sit it out with him having a picnic. I had to get many of my youngsters going through puddles. Even though they had run the forest, their dam used to jump the streams so they thought they had to too!! Patience and understanding coupled with a pinch of firmness (not overstepping boundaries and being rude) will work eventually.

 

[ycbm]

You have to find as many puddles, low level streams, rivers, paddling areas as possible. Sit it out with him having a picnic. I had to get many of my youngsters going through puddles. Even though they had run the forest, their dam used to jump the streams so they thought they had to too!! Patience and understanding coupled with a pinch of firmness (not overstepping boundaries and being rude) will work eventually.

This and don't give up. When my last horse was 5 I had to get off to get home if we came across a puddle that filled the path. At 8 he waded through a flood 2 feet deep out on a hack and then another one further along the road filling a dark tunnel under a canal a foot deep.

I got there in the end by taking him out to a cross country course with 4 ponds on it and telling my OH that he wouldn't see me until he saw me. I waited him out until he stepped into the water on the first one, then the second, he hesitated at the 3rd and at the 4 one he said, "OK, have it your own way" and plunged straight in. From then on he had no issue with water.
.

 

[Barton Bounty]

BB will go in any water like a puddle of smallish water, a small burn reluctantly, but the sea? No chance, ive been off , tried to follow, just stressed him out , doesn’t like the water wooshing towards him

The boy doesnt like his feet wet

 

[toppedoff]

Saw this on fb

 

[SEL]

Wellies! I used to ride my friend's Sec C and like a lot of natives he thought water had pony eating demons in it. My best outing was one where we got stuck on a little island for 45 minutes. I only had jodhpur boots and chaps on so had to wait for him to get hungry

 

[Jambarissa]

It sounds like he's an obedient lad in general so assume it's not your leadership ability.

You've tried following and getting off and leading which is enough for most.

So assume a proper fear. Will he walk over a taupaulin? Squishy ground? A puddle? All you can do is keep building it up until he's over his fear. He'll get there if you're consistent and take the time.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Looking for some advice!
My horse will not go in a water complex when out cross country!
Any other fences he’s super brave but water he just plants and you cannot get him to move.
Would like to do some low level eventing next year but feel like it’s pointless if he won’t go through water

When my mare would not go in the water complex after sinking in a bog in the New Forest, I got off her later that day and walked into the water myself and she gradually followed. This new mare would not go in water till she followed another in and gradually found water is fun. I would say practice with a local one where you can take time and go in yourself if needs be,

you could also take your horse to an equine pool where experienced staff can get them in and once swum, puddles wont be too bad ,

 

[blitznbobs]

i would do some serious ground work (similar to trailer loading ) forward and backward on voice commands and then find some water and train them to go in it like going in a horsebox etc

 

[Vodkagirly]

A day at the beach with a horse that is confident in water. Get there at least 3 hrs before low tide do there are lots of puddles.
Take a picnic and patience.