???Scared of Water???

[appychick]

ok, i got a mare that i went swimming with a couple months ago. She wasnt scared of the water at all, went right in. Well, i went to the same pond, in the same spot, but now she is scared to death to get in. It took me 15 minutes just to get her feet in and she would NOT go further. What should I do? Is she really scared, or do you think she just dosnt want to go in? :confused:

[Div]

She cuold be scared, or she could just not want to go in. I used to ride a pony that would refuse to go anywhere near a puddle when she was ridden, but when she was alone in her paddock she would be to her neck in the pond, having a swim :rolleyes:

Does your mare really need to go in the water? If she doesn't want to, there is no point in forcing her. If you want to go swimming, go swimming. Don't force your horse to.

Whether she is scared or stubborn, it does not matter unless you MUST go into water. She just might not feel like going for a swim :p

[appychick]

It dosnt matter if she dosnt want to. If she is told to do something she is supposed to do it, even if she is scared im a patent person and will let her take her time but she WILL go in. I like swimming on horses, and i know she likes to swim.

[Div]

That's great that you are patient :)

Just take your time with her. If you know she will go in then just persist (gently, of course) and she'll do it eventually. She might just be testing you to see if she can get away with it, in which case of course you need to make her obey or she might begin to play up more seriously.

Swimming is fun. One of my horses hates it but the others love it, and there's nothing better than a nice swim on a horse on a boiling hot day :cool: