Water Help

[CactusFlower]

I’m not sure where to ask this, so I might cross post in the eventing forum, but I’m sure all y’all have some good ideas.

My horse is a young arab mare who spent most of her life (until about a year ago) in a show facility with limited turnout. She flunked out of the local hunter circuit and came to live at the barn I now lease her from. When we got her, she was very uncertain about the outdoors in general, was wary about any unmanicured footing, and could not calmly ride on trails or the back pastures. Throughout the past year, she has gained confidence on the trail and natural footing, and can jump small ditches and banks and walk on mud, grass, unlevel dirt, even puddles in the sand arenas.

However, we are having serious issues with water. We have a couple different water features, including two in her pasture. One of these has scary footing, so I wouldn’t attempt a crossing there, but the other is right next to the fence where it’s hard to ask her to walk across. The other water feature on the property is a larger pond with nice footing that I’ve seen horses swim in on a few occasions. Unfortunately, it’s in a back pasture and my horse will not even get close enough to the bank to look at the water.

I know the best option is to have another horse to follow through the water, but the only horse I know doesn’t mind the water is horrible leading in the pasture. Additionally, I’m usually out alone or while my coach is teaching other lessons, so I don’t often have someone to lead another horse.

Long story short, how would you introduce water to a horse that refuses to go near it? Thanks in advance!

[gothedistance]

Long story short, how would you introduce water to a horse that refuses to go near it? Thanks in advance!

First of all - you don’t need another horse.

You get off your horse’s back, put on your wading boots, pack carrots or cookies in your pocket, make a big puddle somewhere with a running hose and a piece of sacrificial ground, and make a day (or afternoon) of just introducing the fun of water to the horse. Use the hose on the horse’s lower legs until the horse is blase about the entire wetting procedure and a puddle is formed, then you walk through the puddle. Stop in the center of the puddle and give a carrot and lots of praise. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Until the horse had dropped head and neck and is bored as hell walking back and forth through the water and is just looking for the next carrot. Pet horse and put it away.

Next day do it again until horse is bored silly. Do it again on the third day and if by now the horse is just marching through the puddle like it’s dessert sand from the second you start, you are ready to move onto something bigger. A small SHALLOW creek.

Do the same thing with carrots and marching through the water yourself first, splashing like a 5 year old with your feet and letting the horse see - “this is fun!” Chew noisely on a carrot and let the horse see/hear that! It’ll want one, and will figure the water is OK if you are OK and that’s where the carrots are. DON’T FORCE. Just give the horse time to think, and time to reflect on those yummy carrots. Then gently encourage. The horse should walk into the water. Give lots and LOTS of praise, and immediately give carrots. Repeat, repeat, repeat until the head is dropped and eye soft and slightly bored.

Now you are ready to ride through the creek the following day. Start by walking on your own feet through it, give carrots, walk back through, give carrots, mount up and ask horse to walk through. Give a carrot on the other side. Then walk back. Give another carrot.

What you are doing is equating a creek or a body of water to a tasty treat. And for a while after your horse is steady going through small bodies of water, keep the carrots handy for reward.

Arabs are smart - they “get it” pretty fast when you are patient and kind and understanding and giving…and willing to show them the ropes first.

You want your horse to learn this on it’s own so that it will be bold going through water and not looking around for that other horse to lead.

Good luck.

[Beau_s_mom]

Simbalism taught me the exact same method that gothedistance outlines above. I had an absolute wierdo when it came to water. Wellies and a pocket full of peppermints to start the process. My gelding will occasionally jump the snot out of a creek in the hunt field if he is really on a roll but he will cross water every time. He has even rolled in a lake when we went out for a swim. This way really works. Good luck.

[CactusFlower]

Gothedistance- THANK YOU! She’s pretty solid on small puddles; I’m just trying to get her close enough to a real body of water that I can stand in there and demonstrate how not-evil it is. However, I will definitely try this method, and I’m extremely grateful to have someone tell me I don’t need a lead horse.

Beau’s Mom- I needed that encouragement! Thank you both

[gothedistance]

Make her solid on BIG puddles first. Something she can’t step around, something that splashes for several footfalls, not just one.

You’ll need to do this entire process in steps, like climbing a ladder. One rung at a time, and don’t skip any. Once she feels comfortable with big BIG puddles and stands and walks patiently, even plays a bit, then make the puddle “move” with water running through it with a hose.

By the time your horse is super comfy with a ho-hum big moving water puddle, a small creek isn’t as scary.

You will spend a lot of money in carrots, but it will be well worth it. And invent a special phrase with a big smile that you use when your horse finally “gets it” at each step. It will equate that happy expression with doing something right and getting treats and pleasure from you.

As I said Arabs are very smart. However, they also won’t extend any trust in your direction (like other horses do) until they are sure you are worthy of that trust.

So take your time, and do this right. Lots and lots and LOTS of repetition setting your horse up for success each time.

Again, good luck. And have fun playing in the water this summer.

[CactusFlower]

gothedistance- Thank you so much! I will definitely be doing this just like you advised over the summer!