Swimming Horses

[amy_b]

The yard Im working at had a pool (racing yard) I know a couple of eventers swim their horses when they are at top level. wondering if anyone on here does/has and a couple of questions! (mostly eventing based )
who does it?
what discipline do you do?
what level of competion warrents it?
(I think this one is in my head so humour me! ) Im quite careful about what water my horse goes in so that he never questions jumping into water, would swimming him make him question whether he's going to have to swim when he lands in the water therefore hesitate/stop for a second?! has anyone had any experiences of this?
I like all of the pro's of swimming so basically after a few cons/experiences and when you feel it is beneficial over regular fitness work Thanks!!

 

[Lanky Loll]

We used to swim one of our old standardbred harness horses regularly - worked for her but not for others as they don't all like it.
Because we race on grass most of the time they have to be able to cope with changes in surface quality, if she'd had a tough race on hard ground we wouldn't want to do too much stress loaded work with her the following week so she'd go swimming instead. She only had to do a few lengths for a good workout, really enjoyed it and she got to do a "spa session" afterwards for her legs and then stand in the solarium so finished up all warm and relaxed.
When we retired her from racing her legs were clean as a whistle - despite racing between 8 - 14 times a year (we only race May - September) from the age of 3-7 and we only retired her because she had gone as far as she could in the handicap system.
Not sure how it would effect your eventer - I'd hope that if it's similar to how ours went in - down a gradual slope - it shouldn't be detrimental as it's very different to jumping in?

 

[HDPE]

I'm a dressage rider, competing at FEI level here in Aus, where swimming horses seems to be more common.
We took Luce swimming after his splint, IMO it did help speed up the healing process - in the space of weeks he went from hopping lame to almost completely sound, without losing any fitness whilst doing less ridden work.
He still went regularly whilst we owned him, and he definitely enjoyed himself plus it helped with muscle tone, fitness, and giving him something else to do.
I am told that Kallista Field (NZ Olympian) who owned Kiwi before me swims her horses, so it might be time to take K back.

I don't know about the whole water jump issue, my thought would be since at the pool horses walk down a slope they wouldn't associate it with being similar to going xc. I don't know though, maybe if you go for it do a lot of schooling over water jumps before you next compete to make sure he's still okay?

 

[amy_b]

both good points about the slope actually, and this one (all theoretical, Im not thinking of taking him (or asking if I can!!) just yet! ) is in a barn and it really quite different from a water jump. Just musing some thoughts as they are so uncommon here!!