Racehorse physio in the sea

Re: Racehorse physio in the sea

Noweia — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:40:05 GMT

I've ridden a swimming horse, also in Ireland. In a hacking centre I worked in we'd take them down to the beach for a gallop then into the water for a swim!

Re: Racehorse physio in the sea

Ian Mostyn — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:00:55 GMT

Gillian, when she was a recent graduate got called out to a horse stranded in quicksand on the beach in Cumbria. Not sure whether it was dead when she got there or was euthanased, anyway with the tide coming in the horse was dead. Fire brigade couldn't move the horse, too much sea and wet sand to get heavy lifting equipment so the only solution was to wait until the tide came in, the horse floated and use the lifeboat to tow the horse around the bay to the local harbour and drag the horse up the slipway to meet the knackerman. She tells the story so much better than I do but the only "swimming" horse I know about. I have seen the underwater treadmills on a video and zebra can swim accross rivers quite happily (crocodiles allowing)

Ian

Re: Racehorse physio in the sea

Tim Cheyne — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:41:45 GMT

Several racehorse training stables here have indoor swimming pools for exercising the horses, circular with a sloping lead-in and water deep enough that the horses have to swim (no feet touching the bottom) but they do not swim as far as that horse appears to be doing. I did hear that the Cavalry sometimes swim their horses with riders astride but I know not whether that is true.

The big disadvantage of salt water swimming is the need for a good wash down with fresh water afterwards,

Tim.

Re: Racehorse physio in the sea

Clive Ansell — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:55:54 GMT

Arlo - you're a braver man than me!

Re: Racehorse physio in the sea

Hannah Wynne Richards — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:32:17 GMT

They swim quite well and mine certainly enjoys paddling when I take her to the beach. Splashes me, so I end up drenched I'd be scared to go out of her depth though, and would prefer if they used a proper equine swimming pool as if something went wrong, e. g. rope got tangled in the horse's legs there wouldn't be much chance of saving it

Wynne

Re: Racehorse physio in the sea

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:16:11 GMT

I've ridden a swimming horse!

When I was a boy, we used to stay with family friends in Connemara (SW Ireland), where they trained horses that way too.

Amazing experience. Still remember it pretty vividly nearly 30 years later ...