HORSES + WATER
There are many different ways to introduce water into a horses training routine – the beach (for wading, swimming, and surging), a water walker, an underwater treadmill, and of course, the pool. As horses differ in fitness levels and swimming techniques, it is difficult to apply a one-size-fits-all approach to swimming a horse. However, depending on whether a horse is swimming as a refresher or to supplement track work, most will swim several straight laps in a pool, increasing to longer or more continuous laps in a circular pool. Equine pools are typically 50-55m long, and either straight or circular. They have a ramp into the pool that gradually gets deeper until they can’t touch the bottom and begin their swimming stroke. The walls of equine pools are engineered to arc outwards below the waterline to ensure a horse’s legs won’t accidentally touch the sides of the pool as they swim. For the same reason, these pools are built very deep, about 4m.
Team Waterhouse/Bott enjoying a relaxing morning beach session at Altona.
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