Riding Your Horse to Go Through Water on the Trail

Western Lesson: Teach Your Horse to Go Through Water on the Trail

Sometimes water can be scary for even the most experienced trail horses. Water looks different to horses than it does to people. If the water is muddy, horses can’t tell how deep it is. If it’s moving and splashing, it may feel cold and shocking on their legs. Your horse trusts you to help him cross at a safe location and where the water isn’t too deep or running too fast. If you’re not sure whether your horse has ever crossed a stream, it’s best to take your time and assume that he needs your help. Here’s how to ride your horse through water on a trail.

Groundwork

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The first step to ride your horse through water is to work on groundwork. Be prepared before you hit the trail. If you teach your horse to approach obstacles confidently, you’ll have the skills you need to conquer water.

You can practice at home with a tarp. Use a rope halter and long lead and send your horse away from you and toward the tarp. If the tarp is to your left, raise your left hand (as it holds the rope) up and toward the obstacle to cue your horse to move forward in that direction.

It’s great to have a flag or stick in your right hand to motivate your horse to move on, and to keep him out of your personal space. Simply waving the stick or flag will encourage your horse to move forward, even if you don’t touch him with it.

Once your horse moves forward, release the pressure and allow him to rest. Make sure to reward the slightest forward motion by giving him a break.

Keep up this practice until your horse is willing to move forward over the tarp. It’s much less scary for you and your horse when he takes the first steps while you’re on the ground.

From the saddle, make sure you keep your horse facing the obstacle. Ask him to step forward by using your driving aids; move your arms forward and add leg. Reward your horse with a break (but don’t let him turn) when he takes a step forward.

Once your horse will willingly cross obstacles at home, you’re ready to try your “move-forward” skills at a water crossing.

Trail Training

Practice water training when you have lots of time to work back and forth across a stream or creek that is shallow and fairly narrow, with plenty of open space.

Hint: Ask other trail riders in your area where easy water crossings are located, and be sure to find out how fast water is running on the day you want to ride.

Approach the water crossing just like you approached the practice obstacles at home. Your confidence and precise cues will help your horse know where to go.

If your horse seems worried about the water, dismount and put on a rope halter and long lead. Send him across the water just like you did with new obstacles at home. The more you practiced at home, the easier it will be to send him across the creek. He’ll understand the cues, and you’ll see how he responds.

Ride Your Horse Through Water – Some Friendly Help

Keep your horse’s nose pointed at the water crossing and don’t allow him to turn away. Quickly turn him back toward the water if he attempts to even glance to the side. Apply your leg aids to cue the horse forward and keep your reins forward.

If your horse seems worried, you can try asking a friend to ride in front of you, as long as you know your horses get along and that her horse won’t kick. As soon as they cross, cue your horse forward to see if he’ll follow. You can use his herd instincts to help him feel calm and know that other horses think it’s safe to step in the cold and moving water.

Ride Your Horse Through Water – Wade in the Water

The next step to ride your horse through water is to work more in it. Once your horse willingly steps in, it’s time to celebrate! Praise him and give him a rest. Ask him to go back and forth a few times so that he understands that crossing water isn’t something to blast through quickly.

It’s OK to allow him to play a little and get a drink and relax a moment in the water, but be aware that some horses like to lie down and roll in it. Apply leg pressure immediately if you feel your horse’s knees begin to bend! If you know your horse is prone to rolling, make sure to keep him moving forward.

The next step is to ask your horse to walk up and down the water (if the footing is safe) and allow him to stop and feel the water rush on his legs. When your horse is willing to keep his head down and step through water at the speed you want, you’ll know he has accepted water crossing as a natural occurrence. This should lead to many more happy trail rides with your friends, knowing that water is no obstacle.

Trainer Jessica Dabkowski, of Pony Peak Stangmanship in Laporte, Colo., focuses on natural horsemanship techniques while training Mustangs and all breeds of horses. She often works with young riders to help them prepare for Mustang Makeover competitions.

This article originally appeared in the September/October 2017 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!

6 years ago

Heidi Melocco

Heidi Nyland Melocco holds a Bachelor's degree in English from Ohio Wesleyan University and a Master's degree in journalism from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University with a concentration in magazine and photo editing. At the latter, she was named Master's Student of the Year. Her stories and photographs are seen regularly in many equine publications, including Horse Illustrated and Young Rider. Melocco is an author of Western Horseman's Understanding Lameness, Western Horseman’s Legends 6 and 9, and Goodnight’s Guide to Great Horsemanship, and she’s a contributing photographer for the Certified Horsemanship Association's Instructor Manual, Hitch Up & Go, The Revolution in Horsemanship by Rick Lamb and Robert Miller, DVM; and Breed for Success by Rene Riley and Honi Roberts. She and her daughter are currently writing a new children's book called Pony Powers—all about what it's like to keep a pony at home. Melocco's photos have won awards from the Equine Photographer's Network and an AIM Award. Melocco holds first-prize awards from American Horse Publications (AHP) for training stories and equine photography. She has had more than 35 magazine cover photos. Melocco continues to write about and photograph horses and also works in video broadcasting. She directed and produced a popular RFD-TV show for more than 10 years. Melocco stays up to speed with social media and has grown accounts to reach and engage with hundreds of thousands of fans. She served on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Horse Council and has presented social media seminars at the PATHi and CHA International Conferences.She started riding Ponies of the Americas at age 5 at Smiley R Ranch in Hilliard, Ohio, with Janet Hedman and the W. E. Richardson family. In college, she was president and later assistant coach of the Ohio Wesleyan University Equestrian Team, coached by world-champion-earning trainer Terry Myers. Keeping active as a rider and riding instructor, Melocco began studying Brain Gym—an international program based on whole-brain and active learning. As a 4-H advisor, she used the simple movements to help horseback riding students relax and achieve their goals in the saddle. Melocco became a registered instructor with Path International, helping to combine horse knowledge and therapeutic experience with horsemanship training. Melocco has presented demos at Equine Affaire and at the Path International and National Youth Horse Council Annual Conferences. She taught at the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center in Longmont, Colo. Melocco resides on her small-acreage horse property with her husband, Jared; daughter Savannah; AQHA gelding, Golden H Mister T; pony, Romeo; dogs Lucy and Rosie, and three orange barn kitties known as the "Porch Patrol."