XC Water Issue

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Cavalier18

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I have recently brought a ISH 5yo mare who is very brave XC and will jump pretty much anything. She hasn't done much XC only what she has done with me. However, she just can't understand water. Even if she is not jumping in she still will stop and take a lot of encouraging to get in. She does not back up, she just doesn't respond to the leg. Once she has entered the water she is fine but obviously competing she would have not see or been in the water obstacles before. Is there anyway I can help her with this apart from taking her to multi venues to get her used to foreign water?

Thanks in advance!
 
CrazyMare said:
I'm afraid you've answered your own question!!! I had to take mine to every single water I could think of!!!
Click to expand...

Exactly this ^^^^^^. Or alternatively, friend had kind but firm professional take her horse around different venues for awhile and that worked too...
 
can you stick her in a field where she has to walk through streams etc? i like putting my babies into boggy fields with ditches and streams and they figure it out themselves fairly fast, they also get used to seeing water in different light and figuring out reflections etc. Does them the world of good.
 
Do you have access to a river or a water jump near you that you pass when hacking?

We made our own small water jump on the corner of a river at home in one of the fields. So whenever we were riding in the field we would use the water jump (jump in the loosest possible term lol) to begin with and finished off by walking into the water to cool down etc. basically made going into water as a "just one of those things" type events. We would also do the jump while out hacking etc. and made sure it was a no-pressure type thing. When billy is out in that field grazing he regularly takes himself down the water jump so he can play in the river! I also do it with him after schooling and we saunter down on a long loose rein and stand in it for a bit.

Personally I would be finding a river that you can paddle in or walk through when oIt hacking, takes the pressure off them. Plus having a horse that can be a lead for you is always helpful :)
 
Thank you everyone. Unfortunately I am unable to have water in her field and there are no substantial bodies of water around but I will have a look as I may not know about one. But at least I know it won't be one of those non fixable problems!
 
try taking her somewhere & lunging her through it first, that way if your on the ground with a lunge whip behind her she will be more likely to go forward.
you could also try taking her with someone who has a horse good with water to get a good lead in.

Repetition is key, do it 10 times then go away, pop a few other things then do it again another 10 times.

I was lucky as when I broke mine the yard had a water complex so every day I rode I walked her into it once I was finished, never had an issue with water!
 
If you can a lead horse will make the process quicker, go to as many rivers, beaches, xc courses as you can - it is just about exposure. Don't make an issue out of it and always try to set her up to succeed :)
 
Beach is great for teaching them about water. I reckon if you can trot into the sea / over shiny suspiciously changing sand etc etc XC water will be no problem.

I also make mine go through every puddle etc as well.

New horse didn't like water and we have a small water crossing on one hack. I take her through it every couple of days making sure we can trot into it. Once I am sure that's secure I will try a new bit of water.

I'm sure yours will get it soon too. Just repetition as others have said.
 
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