In the wild, horses have lived in a huge range of different habitats. And often they would have come across lakes and rivers. But these days most horses are domesticated. So they're not used to seeing open stretches of water. So as a horse owner, you might be left wondering “can horses swim?”.
Can Horses Swim?
Even though horses are pretty big creatures, the truth is that they can swim quite effortlessly without training. Swimming can be therapeutic and enjoyable for horses as well as a good form of low impact exercise.
Not to mention it’s a whole load of fun when horse and rider swim together.
Horses Swim in the Wild for Survival
There aren’t many truly wild horses around these days. But in past times, they roamed free across huge areas of land. They lived in herds and they would naturally migrate in search of new pastures. This means that to get to new areas of food then horses would often have to cross rivers, lakes, ponds or streams.
And being good swimmers would have helped horses to stay safe too. This is because they could slip into the water to escape from predators to save their life. So throughout history, their natural ability to swim has helped keep horses alive.
How Do Horses Swim?
Horses have pretty big lungs so when they go into deep water, these air-filled lungs will help them float on the surface.
And when swimming, the horse's head needs to be above the water to breathe. This is because they breathe differently, and can't hold their breath like us.
This means that they’re at greater risk of drowning if their head goes underwater. But as long as the horse keeps moving forward in the water, then it won't sink when it swims.
A horse will use its head and its legs for balance and to move forward in the water. It will kick its legs around in a way that is very similar to trotting. And this will use a lot more energy than when a horse is moving on the ground.
Do Horses Like Swimming?
Even though they have a natural ability to swim, not all horses like swimming. Some will be keen to swim while others might be reluctant, and some will refuse altogether.
One reason that a horse might not want to go in the water is that generally, they don’t have good depth perception. This means that they will be unsure about the depth of the water. And this is enough to make some horses feel insecure about going in.
If a horse has had a bad experience in the water in the past, this will also put it off going in the water again. And some horses, will simply not enjoy the idea of going in the water and getting wet. And in this case, there might be nothing you can do to tempt it in.
Benefits of Swimming for Horses
Swimming has many benefits for horses. The main one being that it’s one of the best forms of exercise for both animals and humans.
This is because it’s low impact and it works a huge range of different muscle groups. So overall, a regular swim will help to build a horse's muscle mass. This means that swimming is fantastic for your horse's fitness and general training.
Another health benefit for horses that comes with swimming can be found in the form of Hydrotherapy. This is a fantastic rehabilitation treatment for horses with a leg injury or for maintaining the muscles and fitness of sports horses.
This is because the water gives them more free movement with muscles tendons and ligaments. While at the same time, they’re not bearing weight.
As well as being good for general fitness, if your horse likes to swim then taking a dip is a rewarding treat for them. Especially in the hot summer months.
How Fast Can Horses Swim?
Even though horses are a pretty fast land animal and renowned for their endurance, in the water, they're pretty slow. On solid ground, a horse can travel at speeds of up to 55mph but when they're submerged in water then they will struggle to go faster than 2.5mph.
How Far Can a Horse Swim?
The answer to this question all depends on your horse and the water conditions. If there is resistance in the water, such as a current or waves for example, then your horse will have to use more energy to swim.
And if it’s your horse's first time in the water, you should only swim for a short amount of time. You must build up the time and distance gradually.
When your horse is swimming, always keep an eye out for any signs of fatigue. This is when you’ll know that it’s time to leave the water and go to dry land for some rest.
Can You Ride a Horse While It’s Swimming?
You certainly can ride your horse when it’s swimming. And this is a beautiful, bonding and fun moment between horse and rider. But just like all riding activities, if you want to swim with your horse then you must do it safely.
This means that you must be a capable swimmer. If you can't swim then it’s not a good idea to go riding with your horse in the water.
Tips on Swimming With Your Horse
Before you and your horse swim you should remove your horse's saddle first. This will stop the saddle from getting water damaged. And, more importantly, it will give your horse free and comfortable leg and body movements.
It’s better if you and your horse swim in a bit-less bridle or a harness. And never use any straps that will restrict your horse's head, neck or body movements such as side reins or martingales.
When horses are swimming, you should try and make sure that they don’t get their ears wet. This will be uncomfortable for the horse and it may also lead to an ear infection.
If you’re trying to coax a reluctant horse into the water, always be patient, confident and make the experience enjoyable. And If you have a water-confident horse in the group then try and use this horse to encourage more reluctant ones in to the water. And always start your horse off in the shallows before going into deeper water.
And most importantly, when you and your horse swim, never go alone. Make sure that you do it in a group with other riders. This is good for your safety as a rider. And as well as this, horses will feel more confident in the water if they’re in a herd.
Horse Swimming in Saltwater vs Freshwater
Horses can swim in saltwater such as the ocean and freshwater such as a river. But most of the time you’ll be using whatever water is available in your area.
That said, it’s good to know the pros and cons of horses swimming in saltwater and freshwater.
Saltwater
There's nothing more romantic than riding on the beach and then cooling off in the sea.
And when you go swimming in the sea or ocean, your horse will float more due to the salt. This means that your horse won't feel it's weight so much and will find it less strenuous to swim.
As well as this, the salt of the sea is thought to have a range of natural health benefits. And the sea is generally easier for your horse to get into because it's usually firmer underfoot.
But there are risks if you ride in the sea. The first one being that in the sea you can encounter big waves which may go over your horse's head. As well as this, you might come across unexpected jest skis or boats that might startle your horse.
In the sea, you might also encounter jellyfish or sudden drop-offs into deep water. So always check for these things before you go swimming in the ocean.
Freshwater
Swimming in fresh water such as a river or creek is just as beneficial for your horse. But often with fresh water, the footing will be soft and sometimes it might be a bit more difficult to access. And after swimming in freshwater you should always check your horse for leeches.
No matter what type of water you’re swimming in, you should always make sure that it’s permitted to be there with your horse first. And as well as this, you should make sure that you’re aware of any currents. Never swim in water where there are strong currents these will put your life in danger.
Tips on Teaching a Horse to Swim for Rehabilitation
When it comes to taking your horse swimming for rehabilitation therapy, you should always do it in a controlled environment. This could be a special rehabilitation pool, an underwater treadmill, or an equine therapy saltwater spa.
If you want to use swimming as a form of rehabilitation for a muscle or tendon injury, you should do it under the supervision of an equine swimming specialist and your vet. They will be able to make a recovery programme for your horse.
With any water therapy programme, horses must start slowly and build up their swimming time gradually. Depending on the condition they’re being treated for they may benefit from swimming up to five times a week.
And when horses are swimming as part of a general fitness programme, they should only swim three times a week. Because swimming can be quite strenuous so your horse must have plenty of rest days.
Conclusion
When we reflect on the question “can horses swim?” then we can see that swimming comes naturally to horses. It’s a fantastic, low-impact exercise. And just like lots of other animals and humans, the majority of horses will get a lot of pleasure from taking a dip.
