Can horses swim?

Rameses · 02-18-08, 07:46 AM

I know horses aren't necessarily afraid of going into the water but can they swim or do they have have to make contact with the bottom?

alexis · 02-18-08, 04:46 PM

I have never really heard of one swimming so I would have to say no, I don't think their bodies are made for it but I could be wrong.

Zorse · 02-18-08, 07:53 PM

Horses can definitely swim. There are special swim tanks for rehabilitating horses who are recovering from some injuries. It is part of the therapy. I've also seen horses filmed swimming in movies and in nature programs. Not that the movies are any test of reality.

purplefdu · 02-18-08, 09:14 PM

Of course horses can swim. Almost all animals can swim as it is necessary for survival. I have gone swimming with horses before (almost had one roll in a pond, lol) although having a rider on their back does tend to get in the way.

charley · 02-24-08, 05:34 PM

I have never seen a horse swim, but I am sure they can. I never thought about horses going through rehab in a pool. They rehab people in pools and tubs but I did not know they did that with horses. Interesting.

sheena · 02-25-08, 10:00 AM

LOL. Have you ever read the Black Stallion. He swam from a boat to an island.
I think in real life they can too. Most animals can, if they need to. Just stay away from those hooves.

mimi31 · 03-07-08, 07:56 AM

Of course they can swim! The horse may not like to actually get in the water but they are actually really strong swimmers. We had a couple small rivers where I grew up and we would have to make our horses swim through those (with us on them) quite often.

02-18-08, 07:46 AM	Can horses swim? Post #1 (permalink)
Rameses Member Join Date: 01-19-08 Posts: 32	Can horses swim? I know horses aren't necessarily afraid of going into the water but can they swim or do they have have to make contact with the bottom?

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02-18-08, 04:46 PM	Can horses swim? Post #2 (permalink)
alexis Member Join Date: 08-10-07 Posts: 329 Images: 2	I have never really heard of one swimming so I would have to say no, I don't think their bodies are made for it but I could be wrong.

02-18-08, 07:53 PM	Can horses swim? Post #3 (permalink)
Zorse Member Join Date: 02-02-08 Location: Eastern Ontario Posts: 25	Horses can definitely swim. There are special swim tanks for rehabilitating horses who are recovering from some injuries. It is part of the therapy. I've also seen horses filmed swimming in movies and in nature programs. Not that the movies are any test of reality.

02-18-08, 09:14 PM	Can horses swim? Post #4 (permalink)
purplefdu Member Join Date: 08-12-07 Posts: 236 Images: 1	Of course horses can swim. Almost all animals can swim as it is necessary for survival. I have gone swimming with horses before (almost had one roll in a pond, lol) although having a rider on their back does tend to get in the way.

02-24-08, 05:34 PM	Can horses swim? Post #5 (permalink)
charley Member Join Date: 01-01-08 Posts: 57	I have never seen a horse swim, but I am sure they can. I never thought about horses going through rehab in a pool. They rehab people in pools and tubs but I did not know they did that with horses. Interesting.

02-25-08, 10:00 AM	Can horses swim? Post #6 (permalink)
sheena Member Join Date: 02-02-08 Posts: 25	LOL. Have you ever read the Black Stallion. He swam from a boat to an island. I think in real life they can too. Most animals can, if they need to. Just stay away from those hooves.

03-07-08, 07:56 AM	Can horses swim? Post #7 (permalink)
mimi31 Member Join Date: 02-01-08 Location: NY Posts: 50	Of course they can swim! The horse may not like to actually get in the water but they are actually really strong swimmers. We had a couple small rivers where I grew up and we would have to make our horses swim through those (with us on them) quite often.

Can horses swim?

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Can horses swim?