Horse swimming has gotten complicated with all the mixed opinions flying around. As someone who’s crossed creeks on horseback, introduced young horses to ponds, and watched more than a few dramatic refusals at water crossings, I learned everything there is to know about horses and swimming. Today, I will share it all with you.
Spoiler: your horse can swim. Whether they want to is a different story entirely.
Horses Are Natural Swimmers
The first time I rode a horse into water deep enough that his feet left the ground, I’ll be honest — it was terrifying and amazing at the same time. The second his hooves couldn’t touch bottom, he just started paddling with all four legs in this rhythmic motion that looked a lot like a trot. Turns out, horses do this instinctively. Nobody taught him. He just knew.
Horses have large lungs that give them natural buoyancy, which keeps them floating pretty well. And those powerful leg muscles? They make horses surprisingly strong swimmers. They can cross rivers and lakes when they need to, and they’ve been doing it for thousands of years.
Wild Horses Have Always Swum
Probably should have led with this section, honestly. Horses swimming isn’t some modern novelty — it’s deeply wired into their history. Wild horses have been crossing bodies of water during migrations and while fleeing predators since long before we ever domesticated them.
The Chincoteague ponies in Virginia are probably the most famous example. Every year they swim across a channel during the annual pony swim, and it’s become this huge tourist event. But they’re not doing anything special — they’re just doing what horses have always done.
Out west, mustangs cross streams and rivers regularly as they move around their home ranges. It’s not a big deal to them. It’s just part of getting from point A to point B.
Do All Horses Actually Like Water?
Here’s where it gets individual. Every horse I’ve worked with has had a different opinion about water, and their personality really shows.
- Some horses walk right into water like it’s nothing and genuinely seem to enjoy splashing around
- Others are cautious — they’ll test it with a hoof, think about it for a while, and eventually wade in with some encouragement
- And then there are the horses that act like water is made of lava and want absolutely nothing to do with it
That’s what makes water training endearing to us horse people — you never know what you’re going to get, and every horse has their own relationship with it. Past experiences matter a lot here. A horse that had a positive first experience with water is usually more confident going forward. A horse that got scared in water early on? That takes patience and time to work through.
Swimming for Fitness and Rehab
This is where things have gotten really interesting in the equine world. Equine swimming pools and water treadmills are popping up all over the place, and for good reason. Swimming gives horses a killer cardiovascular workout while being incredibly gentle on their joints and legs.
I’ve seen horses recovering from leg injuries make amazing progress through swim therapy. The water supports their weight, so they can maintain fitness without pounding on a healing leg. A lot of equine therapy centers now have full aquatic setups, and the results speak for themselves.
Safety Tips If You’re Taking Your Horse Swimming
If you want to introduce your horse to swimming, here’s what I’d tell you based on my own experience:
- Start shallow. Let them walk in and get used to the feel of water on their legs before anyone talks about deep water
- Never, ever force a scared horse into water over their head. That’s how you create a horse that hates water forever
- Take off any tack that could get waterlogged. Wet leather gets heavy fast, and heavy tack on a swimming horse is a safety issue
- Steer clear of strong currents. A tired horse in a current is a dangerous situation for everyone
- Always have eyes on a horse near water. Even confident swimmers can have bad moments
Take it slow, keep it positive, and a lot of horses end up loving water activities. It’s one more way to add variety to your time together, and honestly, there’s nothing quite like a summer trail ride that includes a creek crossing with a horse who’s totally comfortable in the water.
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