Young horse hates water??

[baleofhay]

My youngster hates water. She has avoided puddles all winter but also hates being washed off with sponge and bucket. Son tried to take her over ford on Sunday and she put up a huge fight, he won in the end but i know i would have struggled.

What is the way forwards please?? Will she always dislike water??

 

[VRIN]

No .. many don't like it at first but just keep going... make sure you only attempt to go into water when you have time to see it through..

If you are not too confident yourself have someone on foot (with wellies).

Don't despair and good luck!

I am quite lucky - living close to the sea means there is always lots of water at varying depths and sizes - so horses quickly get used to it..

 

[KatB]

My horse refused point blank to go into water the first time I introduced him to it, and had me off trying

He was then quite cautious for a while, but everytime we went anywhere near it I just let him walk in with no pressure, only hassle him if he steps back etc, but not hassle him to go any quicker than walk,then eventually it clicked and he willcanter through any water now, do log drops inetc etc no problems at all, just keep the pressure off her and let her take her time into it...

 

[MagicMelon]

I think a lot of youngsters dont like water to begin with. One of mine is similar to yours - he hates the feeling of water dripping down him when being washed down (he flinches all over). He wouldnt go near water to begin with, I just kept trying and giving him loads of fuss (and treats from my pocket) when he got near and eventually in. Its very good to follow other horses in as well so try that. Just take your time and practice often, try to get him to go through puddles etc. as well. Mine eventually just seemed to click and we've never had a problem since.

 

[oofadoofa]

Is there anywhere you can take her up through a shallow stream with hedges/banks either side? Do you have another horse you can take with her to follow in and then let her stand and relax in the water and let her have a pick of grass from the banks. We used to do this with all the youngsters and they soon got to realise it was nice to go in the water.

 

[Stroppy Mare]

Try and get another horse who the mare trusts to follow who loves water.
My now 10yo used to try and jump ponds and lakes and all sorts out XC which was kinda scary but i had a (younger!) confident horse she knew and loved to follow thru and we started just walking thru, and building up to cantering thru and then jumping up and down into and out of water and since then weve never had problems and the other week (she hasnt been thru anything as big since may) we went thru a huuuge puddle without a fuss (she couldve gone round at a rush) but she still wont entertain smaller puddles ... why get your feet wet?!

 

[kit279]

Wait until its a baking hot day, then work the horse hard so it's hot and sweaty, then take it for a little splash in the water to cool it off. Most of them will enjoy the cooling sensation and start to associate it with good feelings, mine are always a bit reluctant to go in the cold water through the winter

 

[baleofhay]

Thanks for replies . She is very independant and did not seem to care that the horse that was nannying her had gone on without her. She was not going to follow! Will try some of your other suggestions thanks very much

 

[stencilface]

I had my friend follow my horse with a lunge whip - she didn't hit him, but my horse is a wuss, and one look of a lunge whip is all he needs. He now goes in no probs at all

 

[ester]

Another thing to try.

our young mare wouldn't go in and didn't give a toss if she could follow another horse, don't think lunge whip would have worked but took her XC schooling- went to Stockland lovell with their nice flat dew pond.

She could occasionally be reluctant to load (def no problem there anymore) but she always super respected a lungeline, straight up if she felt it so I think someone had had that argument with her before then.

So we got her hot then used the lunge line, one person was on ground, the other was on horse but only as thats how we were and other horse v. sensible. Each held one end of the lungeline and we slowly took it round her.

One giant leap after she decided it was actually really quite nice and was trotting in and out like a pro.

She can still be a bit funny sometimes if she is out of practice or somewhere she doesn't know and doesn't really like jumping in.- oh and streams have had loads of practice but she always has to question moving water.

She is complete opposite to my gelding who loves it, will jump in, over whatever!! I think her idea of self-preservation is too high.