Running water in XC

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Wan2bEventer

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Hi guys,

My mare is bold as anything (jumps into and out of, steps into and even jumps in the middle of the water) into purpose built water complexes, and lakes for that matter! But I cannot even get her over a bridge crossing flowing water on hacks - she is petrified. Even if the water moves really slowly (like a canal!) she spots it immediately and freezes. I really want to do Solihul as our first Intro, but it does specify that the water complex is a stream.

I fear that even if I avoid this course, it is bound to recur throughout the season and beyond, so I really need to conquer it!

Does anybody know why she is so scared, and have any ideas on how to get her past this? Unfortunately none of the courses I practise on have running water complexes.
 
It's not the water that's the problem but the bridge!!!!! I had this with mine and he was scared sh**less!! I was with someone else though and he followed the other horse quite happily, although was blowing and walked over it like bambi!

I have taken him over a bridge since but again with another one in front and he wasn't bothered at all.

Is there any way you could follow a friend to make it less scary? Good luck.
 
agreed, it's the bridge, not the water, that she's afraid of. she knows it's hollow underneath and thinks it might not hold her weight - smart, really. following a friend is best, and really, don't worry about the water on a xc course being running or still, she won't have time to notice!
 
You won't have to cross a bridge at Solihull just go through the stream [not very wide] It is my local course but don't think we will be doing it as they had cricket stumps at last years riding club qualifier that were so narrow my horse would have had a job to pass through them.He refused to [has never been a problem with any other skinney ,ever] jump it and from being in the lead was eliminated.
They never used the jump at the BE but its not my favorite course.Only one team that had to do that jump [and they were ponies] completed the riding club qualifer!
 
THanks guys - should have said though - she will cross bridges that go over ponds no problem, and over footpaths/roads, no matter how narrow they are. There is a bridleway on my hacking route that takes us right up close to a canal, and she is just terrified. Hopefully if it is just a stream she can muddle through it however she likes... just have to really push her through it I guess.
 

Mine has the same problem with running water. She'll go into or jump over still water (with some encouragement) but is petrified of running water, the sight and the sound of it. Though interestingly, she's happier to go through running water than jump over it - maybe because she hates ditches too
crazy.gif
. Some eventer!

I wonder whether they see the movement but aren't sure what it is, particularly with a ditch whereas a stream it's a bit more obvious.
 
Sounds like you need to find some nice old fashioined fords. We have a couple of these on regular hacks and also a river which we have to ride up about 500 yards, nothing is scared of water after that!
 
Last time I went to Solihull it was a decent log into the stream and out again. Its not that wide, and with plenty of leg she'll either go through it or over it. Murphy hates jumping over things into water but he was fine a Solihull, mainly because I don't think he realised the water was there until he was commited to jump!
 
My mare won't go in moving water either so I know how frustrating it can be. She's happy to go into a still water jump but won't go through a stream. In the past I've been tempted to get off and try and lead her through! Surprisingly she didn't take much encouragement to go in the sea although she didn't like the waves at all so we had to go deeper than them!

Hopefully once you're going cross country your horse will be going forward and with plenty of encouragement won't mind the running water.
 
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