Cross Breeds

How 2 get my horse to go through water? Square up?

I have a 12yr old retired standardbred race horse. She became my riding horse about 2 years ago, and she has done really well considering that i broke her myself. However, i would like to do more then JUST ride around the farm, by taking her to shows, and on trail rides. Yet she walks around puddles, even shen i'm walking her on a lead. Any ideas? also, I plan on entering her in halter classes, but she won't square up 4 me, any ideas on that??

Public Comments

1. You should play in the water and have your horse watch and then the next day put small amounts of water on then.
2. To get her to square up you might have to pick up her feet and place them where you want them each time you bring her to a stop. After awhile she'll figure it out. As for the puddles... some horses are picky and it might be a trick to get her to walk through them. I had a horse that was so determined not to touch the water that he'd jump over the puddles if I tried to force him to go through them. I would say, find a puddle that is long and wide, and ease her into it. Start out on the ground and walk through the water to show her it's okay. When both you and her can walk through the middle of the puddle get in the saddle and coax her into the water.
3. The easiest way to get a horse to go through big water like a stream or a water obstacle is to follow and older, quiet lead horse. This gives the young horse confidence and and example. You may have to be persistent and patient. As for puddles, I discovered the best cure for this on accident when a drainage problem occured at my barn. Every time it rained, a puddle formed outside my horse's external door. If he wanted to come in for dinner, he had to go through the puddle. After a couple of weeks we had no puddle problem anymore.
4. Horses can be funny about some things that we think are normal, but they can't see the ground underneath so it tends to freak them out a bit. My horse was the same, and my friend and I spent some time walking with him in hand, or with one riding, making a big deal of splashing through the puddle and rewarding him when he stepped in it. He now walks through puddles without any problem. The trick is a little at a time so you don't over face her. Good luck!
5. Try leading her through a big puddle. Walk straight threw the middle of it, and don't let her walk around it. Even if she only puts one foot in the water, reward her. If the puddle is smaller than like 3x3 feet, they go around it. I mean think. If there was a smallish puddle, and you could easily go around it, wouldn't you go around it to? If you want to get her to cross streams and such while you are riding her, have a calm, experienced horse go through it before you. Then nudge her with your heels, but DO NOT let her turn away. When she takes the slightest step forward say "Good girl.", and keep urging her. She might put her head down to smell the water. This is okay, but don't let her turn away. When she goes through the water make of fuss of her, patting her and saying "Good girl." I did this with my eventer prospect, and she will now canter through water, with no hesitation. =)
6. What I have found to work the best: I makes puddles in my yard & around their water. They end up having to get in it to get water. & I tie them to the hitching post(they know how to tie before this) then make a puddle as I groom. Then do it over & over. Then I ride them with another horse they are close to (like their mom, pasture buddy, etc etc.) & across water together. I was always taught your safer on the horse rather leading the horse. Leading a horse across water you can end up ran over. Good luck!
7. I am training my colt to go through water at the moment and the way Im doing this is by getting a huge piece of plastic that I lay on the ground and get him to walk over that first. This will also help with plastic bags etc and gets them used to the sound and feel of it under their feet. You can also put a big bunch of treats dead centre in the plastic so that your horse stands for a little while eating whilst standing on the plastic. Praise them lots for going over the plastic and stop in the middle and relax and scratch them. Once your horse is comfortable with the plastic, throw a bucket of water over the plastic. This will make a puddle that will not drain away or get muddy either. This will get the horse used to water on his hooves and get him to walk over it, stop, go backwards, scratch and rub him. Gradually work your way up to a big puddle and your horse should be much better with water. Good Luck.
8. The best way to get a horse to go through water is to follow another experienced calm horse. Once a horse sees that the other horse was not harmed he will follow the leader. Taking her on trail rides is excellent for her, particulary if there will be lots of other horses there.
9. ask another person to bring there horse through some water then follow that horse with your own .. continue to do this at least 5 times until sucessful then try them standing on the other side and you walk through it on your horse then try on your own and repeat until there is no hesetation.
10. The squaring up i've never had to do since I don't do halter classes, but for the water i would definitely try the previous suggestion of following an older or a more experienced horse the first couple of times. Then every single time you ride, go through water, no questions asked, until your horse just becomes so used to it, it becomes a non-issue. If you're having trouble even getting your horse in water, you can try backing her into it. Some horses won't go through forward, but have no issue backing into it. Then once she is in the water- at least 3 feet, stop, praise, and then walk out. Go in again, stop, praise. Continue until she has no hesitation even walking in, and then repeat every time you ride.