Wet and Wild Riding - Page 5

Northern Maiden, choosing between jumping and a collapsing bridge is not exactly what I'd call "willingly." Of course a horse would repeat the action; it survived, and a horse is a PREY ANIMAL!!! It associates the bridge with the collapse that started the last time it was on it, so it jumps to survive because it worked once before. Fight or flight, and a horse is, again, a PREY ANIMAL!!

SS, Chief, my Friesian, LOVES to jump into tanks and pools. Pain in the butt, if you ask me.  I fill a 150gal tank several times per DAY because he jumps in and paws around and thrashes all the water out. Goofball. 

Besides that, you would never have the balls to make a dive. I know I would. Damn. I wish someone would give me a diving horse.

Jenni, I was jump-judging the cross-country phase of a 3 day event once, when a rider pulled up his horse on the way in to my jump, and, using his hand, bent each of his legs at the knee as tightly as they would go. He then picked up his reins, aimed his horse at my jump, and jumped it successfully.

A few minutes later, a friend came along, and said, "Did you hear about the horse that just went by? When he reached the water jump, he just decided to lie down in it!"

Suddenly, the light went on. The rider had been trying to get the water out of his boots! 

LOL, SS. I had to warn the trainers not to keep heaters in any of his tanks or they would surely be broken. Naturally, they thought I was exaggerating...until he started thrashing around like a little kid when they were filling tanks. He also scared them once by lying flat on his side w/his face in a mud puddle. He didn't bother to lift his head until they were standing right there, panicking! He will make the most out of the tiniest bit of water. ;-)

Beetree, what are you talking about and who are you talking to? Because some of us think making horses dive is cruel, we lack "balls" now? I used to dive. I took lessons from the top diver in the state-olympic qualifier. Not at all scared to take a dive, but dead-set against making a prey animal do it! I chose to do it willingly, because I thought it looked fun and challenging. When a prey animal thinks like that, then I'll reconsider my stance on the matter. 

Horse diving. What else? Keep talking like you do all the time, but when you round up a diving horse, I"m there, me against you. LOL 

Let the betting begin. LOL

Well thank God for this thread. I finally figured out my family's coat of arms.



All these years and I thought the males in my ancestry were good at some other kind of diving. It's so nice to set the record straight.

LOL, THAT IS AWESOME! 

I just love all this crap talk going on. I mean even some cats like water, LOL  So why wouldn't some horses?

Liking water and diving willingly  from a 30 ft jump is a tad bit different.  Show me a horse that will do it without anyone on it's back or chasing/leading it, and I'll believe you.

As for horses playing in water, yes, some will.  I have one with sore front legs that will roll in a puddle to cool off, still, that is a faaaar cry from diving, sorry.
 

It's okay. Only some of us are crazy to dive, no matter the species. LOL

Hey, Look what else I found!! Check out the link from this excerpt....

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Swimming with Horses

There are few things that equal the exhilaration of taking a horse swimming on a hot summer day. They like it, too !!  The power that you experience as they surge forward, paddling strongly through the water is fun, but it can be dangerous. This guide will draw attention to a few safety points, so that you and your horse can enjoy the thrill of swimming every summer in a fun and relaxed manner. Maybe you will start looking for an opportunity to take your horse to the beach for a new experience? 


http://reviews.ebay.com/Swimming-with-Horses-Safety-Guidelines?ugid=10000000002419722