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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 407
| It seems like lately everyone is taking their horses to spend weeks swimming etc. What are your thoughts? experiences? is it worth the investment? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
 
| I took a mare if March 2018 because she had been off for almost 7 months and the Midwest winters aren't always great for us. I knew I couldn't have her ready for BBR without it. She came back looking and feeling great.
I'll probably end up taking 2 horses this winter Feb/March time frame. Especially, if the weather is bad, I just can't get them rode enough or in time to feel comfortable running them. I think it makes a huge difference in their lung capacity.
ETA: I use an aqua- tred not just free swimming.
Edited by RedHead84 2018-08-30 3:13 PM
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12704
 
| I would love to have, or at least have close by access to an aqua tread. I don't know that I would ever swim a horse again, but aqua tread would be awesome. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 407
| lonely va barrelxr - 2018-08-30 1:51 PM
I would love to have, or at least have close by access to an aqua tread. I don't know that I would ever swim a horse again, but aqua tread would be awesome.
why not if you don't mind me asking? |
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 Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
Location: OH | Swimming is a good training supplement but IMO cannot be all you do, horses need concussion on their legs in order to strengthen tendons and ligaments. This is why an Aqua Tred is so nice---kind of the best of both worlds. |
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 Go Your Own Way
Posts: 4947
Location: SE KS | isn't just straight swimming hard on there neck and backs since they have to hold their heads up creating more stress? and it is an akward motion for them vs being a a water tread..... traveling naturally vs swimming.... ?????????
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Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12704
| love2ridepre - 2018-08-30 2:56 PM lonely va barrelxr - 2018-08-30 1:51 PM I would love to have, or at least have close by access to an aqua tread. I don't know that I would ever swim a horse again, but aqua tread would be awesome. why not if you don't mind me asking?
I swam my rocket mare prior to futuritying and it messed with her stifle. I can't be positive that she didn't/doesn't injure the thing kicking at stall walls (she still kicks HARD at feed time), but whatever it is/was never settled completely and was never something that could be diagnosed. I spent thousands trying to find something to fix and three different vets told me that swimming can hyperextend the stifle and if there is a little something wrong it can become a bigger something wrong.
Aqua tread gives the best of both - resistance and some impact, without hyperextension of any body part. |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | We have a friend 15 miles away with an aqua tread facility and it's amazing! We hauled over there pretty regularly during the winter to keep horses legged up, especially the solid veterans who didn't need ridden - just exercised. I'll take my rodeo horses again this winter if I decide to keep hauling through the cold months.
She says the aquatread will put a topline on a horse that you wouldn't believe, and I know my geldings loved "swimming." It will also show you which horses are weak in their core because they will struggle to stay straight in the water. |
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