Riding horses is a lot of fun but sometimes you and your equine friend might decide you’d like to try something different. So, how about swimming? Particularly in warm weather, if you live near a horse-friendly beach or lake a refreshing swim could be a real highlight to a hack.
However, entering the water could put you both in a risky situation. A walk in the shallows won’t concern most horses and their riders. But what happens if you go deeper until your horse is really swimming?
If you want to try this out then you need to make sure everything is safe for your horse beforehand. The team at Equesure has put together some guidance for those who are keen to take the plunge with their intrepid companion.
Knowing your horse’s likes and dislikes and being aware of appropriate safety measures are essential for a stress-free swim with your faithful companion, as is having the right horse rider insurance.
Whether it’s your first time together in the water or you’ve swam with horses many times before, every horse is different and so is every swim. So, here’s a quick checklist of questions to ask yourselves before heading out.
Like pretty much all mammals, horses have a natural instinct to swim when in deep water. Providing they keep moving forward they will stay afloat and will raise their head above the water to breath. They’ll move their legs in a similar way to trotting to maintain balance and stability.
However, because horses cannot hold their breath in the same way we can, if their head becomes submerged there is a greater danger of drowning. Also try to keep water out of a horse’s ear as it could cause discomfort or even lead to an ear infection.
While you might choose to ride your horse while they’re swimming this is no substitute for you being able to swim! Never go in the water if you’re not a good swimmer. You can have plenty of fun in shallow water without the risks.
Horses, like their owners, have their own individual quirks. If you haven’t swam with them before then check with former owners to see what their experience has been. Never rush things and always introduce them gradually to water.
There are lots of benefits of swimming for horses. These include:
Swimming with a horse can be an amazing experience, but can quickly go wrong if you’re not careful. Even if you know the location well don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Always consider these factors.
Horses are herd animals so will be happier entering the water with four-legged friends. Also, if something does happen you’ll be glad of the help.
Wherever your ride takes you, don’t leave home before arranging horse rider insurance and downloading a safety app to alert someone if you need help.
If you think you’ll be swimming then remove the saddle before entering the water. This will not only prevent potential saltwater damage but will also allow better movement for your horse. Perhaps consider a bitless bridle for when they go swimming. Wherever you do, it’s vital you remove any tack which restricts the upward movement of their head as the horse needs to be able to hold it above the surface to breathe.
You should only do this if you are experienced enough, having a neck strap can also help to give you something to hold on to for security, without effecting your horses ability to swim and breathe. There can be serious implications if you lose control of your horse in the water.
Swimming with your horse is a great way to experience all our wonderful environment has to offer. But whatever your level of experience, a policy arranged through Equesure will protect you from the financial consequences of an accident.
From happy hackers to powerful thoroughbreds, with over 60 years of experience in the insurance market, our specialist team can offer you a bespoke policy tailored to your requirements.
We can offer personal accident cover up to £20,000, saddlery and tack cover up to £2,500 (single article limit of £1,000) and death of horse cover up to £3,250. Policies from our trusted panel of insurers can also cover vets fees up to £1,500 for accidental injury and public liability up to £1 million.
Get a quick quote for horse rider insurance today.
Policy benefits and features offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.
Once again I threw Arlo in at the deep end, affiliating him purely for the Arena UK second round show, and once again he pulled it out the bag. How lucky am I to have such a wonderful little horse? We haven’t really competed this year. I don’t really compete over the winter, and also my horsebox was away for repairs up until the beginning of June, so I had no transport even if I’d wanted to.
With the dry ground we don’t seem to be having much luck with shoes, as little madam managed to pull both her front shoes off within 12 hours the other day! We entered the arena with two shoes on for a schooling session and left it with one missing (took about an hour to find it). Then that afternoon, as I went to put some hoof ointment on, I looked down and had to double take, thinking I was looking at the wrong hoof. But, no, the other shoe was missing too.
After having a long wait and some lunch at the onsite café, it was time to get ready for the Joan Wolfe Overall Supreme Shetland Pony Championship. I got changed out of my usual showing outfit into black trousers and a maroon top with white spots, as you are expected to be a bit more “bling” in the evening.
We were all set to go for our next outing, and were super excited. That was until I heard the dreaded clunk of a loose shoe! I checked it over, praying it wasn’t too loose, but, nope, it was going to need a refit.