Posted 2008-04-09 9:53 PM (#81582) Subject: Problem with Horse Laying Down In Water
Veteran
Posts: 285
My son's girlfriend recently bought a very nice mountain horse, but he has one vice. He will lay down in the water every chance he gets. The other day he laid down in a mud hole. He often does not give a warning, acts like he is going to drink and then bam he is down. I worry about her because she rides him by herself a lot and worry about him laying down on top of her. What is the best way to break a horse of this habit? Most of the time he does this in very shallow water. My horse does this occasionally, but not every time he comes to water.
Posted 2008-04-09 10:05 PM (#81587 - in reply to #81582) Subject: RE: Problem with Horse Laying Down In Water
Expert
Posts: 2615
HA HA! It's not really a laughing matter to you,I know,but I'm reminded of my husband's little red dun filly "G" (we had a grulla and now a palomino that are her family bloodlines) and every time we'd be out riding and cross a creek,she'd lay down with him! I saw it happen twice.Usually they'll give some warning but the best way I believe is to keep them moving,don't allow them to stop in the water.If they want to drink,let them drink at the edge.If they act like they're going down,I'd whale the tar out of them and make them cross pronto.Take them back again several times across it.
If one ever lays down in a deep enough creek,or lays on a rider's leg and breaks it,big trouble.
Posted 2008-04-09 10:09 PM (#81589 - in reply to #81582) Subject: RE: Problem with Horse Laying Down In Water
Veteran
Posts: 285
I have learned real quickly to grab my cigs and camera and get out of the way as soon as I can.But he is sixteen two hand horse and she is a little bitty thing, five one and I worry especially since she rides by herself so much.
Posted 2008-04-09 10:15 PM (#81591 - in reply to #81589) Subject: RE: Problem with Horse Laying Down In Water
Expert
Posts: 2615
Tell her to get her spurs on,and carry a riding crop or long reins.Put the spurs to him when she even thinks he's thinking about lying down or turn him back away from the water and ride him in circles then back to the water,then away again several times.This is how we finally broke G from doing it.
Posted 2008-04-10 5:26 AM (#81608 - in reply to #81582) Subject: RE: Problem with Horse Laying Down In Water
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 474 Location: White Mills, Ky.
My old half-arab mare (now retired) used to dunk me occassionally. She loved the water. Did it once in February!! I nearly froze before I got home. I quickly learned the warning signs and would gather the reins tightly and make her keep moving.
I have been told that horses born in April will always love the water. But that may just be an "old farmer's tale."
I agree with everyone else, some spurs and a crop and many trips over the creek. He will get the message that lying down is not acceptable.
Posted 2008-04-10 5:41 AM (#81609 - in reply to #81582) Subject: RE: Problem with Horse Laying Down In Water
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
My colt hasn't laid down in water yet. But he has done it in deep snow or sand several times. I've learned that he is not respectibng my commands when he does that. So I just need to keep his mind busy. When she comes to a place where she thinks that horse Might start thinkng about laying down. Start asking it for extra movements. Get it's mind off rolling and on to you. This can be side passes, head yeilds, disengage hips.
Posted 2008-04-12 8:56 PM (#81777 - in reply to #81582) Subject: RE: Problem with Horse Laying Down In Water
Regular
Posts: 91 Location: Small Town, Texas
Classgirl I had one just like this. He was my personal horse and will always be my favorite...but he had to go. The first time my hubby was on him and he did this I chewed him out and said I could not believe he could not tell this horse was going down...well next week he went down on me twice....he showed no warning what so ever and would just drop down like a camel..LOL! I tired spurs, whip and everything. I even took him to an old timer and he alowed him to lay them dunked his head a few times and he still did it. After many attemps from several trainers and friends he almost broke my 14 year old sons leg and I sold him. This was one of the best minded horses I have ever owned but that was just too dangerous for me.... I think you have serious concerns if she ride alot by herself. I tried to figure out when he was going to do it and work him hard and then he would still do it. I heard the old wives tell and he was not born during that time either.....good luck and have her be very careful!
Posted 2008-04-12 9:56 PM (#81780 - in reply to #81777) Subject: RE: Problem with Horse Laying Down In Water
Expert
Posts: 2615
I think I would have started whaling the tar out of my horse when we even got NEAR the bank of a creek or river,and kept them moving or else.It might have looked like Old Faithful from then on every time they cross water,but,well,you get the picture!
Posted 2008-04-14 1:31 PM (#81894 - in reply to #81582) Subject: RE: Problem with Horse Laying Down In Water
Veteran
Posts: 148 Location: South of Dallas
Many years ago I was riding a beautiful "bulldog" quarter horse of my brother's that I thought I was going to train English. I had taken her to a horse show (an English one, mind you) and was riding her around between classes. We were riding around the edge of the farm's pond (the edge that was on the other side of the mounded side which was obscured from view of everyone at the show). Everything was going really well until the little witch did a giant crow-hop sideways into the water and laid down in one fell swoop and started to roll! I didn't even have time to blink. She caught me under her for a few seconds (in the mud of course). There was a couple up on the ridge of the pond who just stood there dumbfounded watching me be rolled on. We drug ourselves out of the mud and back to the trailer. My friend and I used the rest of our drinking water to wash as much mud off as possible before my next jumper class. Gave up ever trying to teach that horse anything!
Posted 2008-04-14 9:15 PM (#81925 - in reply to #81582) Subject: RE: Problem with Horse Laying Down In Water
Regular
Posts: 91 Location: Small Town, Texas
wendml I know what you mean and it never fails the mud stinks to high heaven! And it can happen very fast! I am glad you weren't hurt..The last time my horse went down he was tired and sweaty and there was no water in sight....in fact we were beside I-35 south of Ft Worth and I wanted to kill him! The next time is when he went down on my son and I was never on him agian and he was sold...
Posted 2008-04-14 11:57 PM (#81936 - in reply to #81582) Subject: RE: Problem with Horse Laying Down In Water
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 385 Location: washington
I was on an endurance ride last year, and it was hot, about 106 that day. I was riding with 2 teammates, one of whom was riding a Tennessee Walker mare. We crossed several creeks, some deep and moving fast. We were standing the horses in the creek talking & letting them drink and bam, down she went. She got up right away but it was scary. After that we were ready for it. That mare went down in almost every creek. It was crazy! The rider was a vet and said she'd never done that before. Her eyes were as big as saucers the first time it happened, and so were mine!
Problem with Horse Laying Down In Water
But he is sixteen two hand horse and she is a little bitty thing, five one and I worry especially since she rides by herself so much. 
