On 7/11/07, Robyn Schulze <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > this is an old pic. I had forgot about it and ran across it. Me and > > walls at sunset. I love his face, he is having such a great time and > > you can tell. > > Janice > > Yay! So are you! that looks like a lot of fun--I want to try swimming > one of my boys sometime. > > Robyn S >
how to get a horse wanting and enjoying swimming: Take off the saddle if its not cordura, And bridle, I learned since this pic its very bad and dangerous to use a bit when a horse is swimming, he needs his head for survival and with you being floated and swung all around up there you haul on his mouth a lot without knowing, would probably add to insecurity of the horse also... But lead them out into the water until they want to come back in, let them come back in so they know its always an option. lead them back over and over, deeper and deeper, you stand on shallower ground while they go in a half circle deeper and deeper each time. When they get so deep they have to swim a little thats when you really have to watch out. They paddle so strong, one accidental paddle kick would be a huge whopper and most likely really do you some damage. When they are swimming out over and over and start relaxing and being happy, get them to stand still when the water is up to their back, then you sorta swim on and lay or sit hanging on to the mane, neck rope or something. try and avoid hanging onto the lead attached to their head in any way. When they start to move you will float and you want to make sure if you go off to the side you hang onto the mane and are floating with them well away from any accidental paddling. As they start really enjoying themselves you can too, standing on them and jumpin off so you land way away out of hoof shot etc. You can tell when they really start having fun and liking it. also, afterward they are just like children and people who have swam all afternoon, they are exhausted and want a long nap :) stonewall swims and will go in a big circle and come back to shore and on his own choose to go back out over and over. he loves swimming. But it has to be a hot day :) Janice-- yipie tie yie yo
