What are your thoughts on swimming a dressage horse regularly (ie once every fortnight, or month) for a variation in fitness work? I know some people don’t encourage it as they are not ‘long and low / over the back’ but the advantage is fitness work that isn’t damaging their joints.
Why not? its part of recuperative therapy, a way to exercise without stressing joints. Long and low isn’t somethin you should be doing all the time anyway. and that’s while you are riding and working. Not really the same. I would consider swimming a cardiac therapy that can be done without stressing the joints.
2 Likes
Didn’t Valegro start swimming in the last year or two of showing a few times a week? Or was it tread milling?
P.
Swimming for horses, like people, is excellent. Work without the stress of weight…
I swim my horses in the lakes when I trail ride…but that’s probably different from what you are talking about :lol: . I have heard its very good for them though!
My experience has been with underwater treadmill and I think it had a very positive influence to the horses. I would purchase an underwater treadmill for its benefits.
I’m pretty sure it’s a treadmill. They truck a bunch of their horses out to a treadmill, they’ve posted videos on social media of more than just Valegro on it.
Aqua treadmill is a great idea esp for hot Arizona summers! It is difficult to work very long during the summer to keep the fitness level up.
3 Likes
I think the method is imperative here.
I swam my event horse 1-2x a week one summer, and it helped his fitness without too much stress on his stifle. However, this was in a lake - crude and rudimentary practice at best. He developed a lot of under muscling to keep his head above water. So it was a double-edged sword. Some people say full immersion swimming can make a horse backsore.
I also, with a different horse, did a summer of 1-3x a week schooling light dressage work through a water complex. That had very good benefits for my gelding, who did not have any physical issues but was not a naturally elastic mover. I saw improvements in his gait after 6 weeks of it.
If I was to do it again, I’d personally do something like the underwater treadmill.
2 Likes
There’s a rehab facility near me that has a circle shaped pool designed with an easy angled entry that is closed after the horse enter, then the trainer can walk around the circle pool holding a lead. It’s about 8 feet deep and used for race horses, reiners and jumpers. My trainer has taken horses there a few times…I think it’s a franchise called Sea Horse Not too expensive either
Thanks for all the feedback. I have discovered what I thought was a swimming facility local to me, is actually an equine water walker, yay! Even better!
That’s great! Good luck to you!
I wouldn’t do anything only once every few weeks. Like human exercise, you need to do it a couple times a week to have an impact. I would think there is more chance of getting sore if you only do it once every few weeks.
I have talked to the people that fun the facility, and will send my horse there for a week at a time for that reason. 
Does anyone know if there are boots that a horse can wear in a water treadmill? My horse has to wear boots or bandages to protect a splint issue but I would like him to start using the water treadmill again (he’s used to it), but worry he might knock himself and put us back three months or worse. Any ideas? Thanks!
My first thought would be Porters with Saratoga bandages.
I wouldn’t put bandages as they will get too heavy with the water, but hard shell neoprene boots would be perfect. My trainer has some with holes, to go through water on the cross.
