by 
Brian
ANSWERS: 5
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I'm sure there are some who learn to enjoy it. I've seen them enjoy splashing around a bit in shallow ends of a pond or stream, on a hot day, where they had free will to be in the shallows, or not. As for packing a towel and hitching a ride to the beach or pool, I don't know that they "think" in terms of "going swimming" as a fun thing to do, but more a means to getting from one point to another, via a water challenge that is between them and where they want to be.
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we have taken many a horse swimming in the ponds, and in the trails in eminence missouri. some love it, and some do it only cause you ask them to.
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I think that once they get used to the water and of not having their feet on the ground, they can learn to like it but I bet deep down they wish they were on solid ground where their feet are really effective. I have gone swimming with my horses many times. We used to live at the beach and would either swim in a calm lagoon or go out riding the waves. It's awesome to get small waves that just lift the back end of your horse and 'help' you to shore. I miss those days:-)
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I used to have horses and some do like it! If they play with the water by kicking it with their front legsyou know they like it and are not scared.Some don't like it cos they can't see the bottom- that's why they sometimes avoid puddles when out riding.
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Some do, but I've never met one that actually *likes* to swim. Most just tolerate it. We used to swim some of the horses when we were rehabbing them from an injury or just to improve their stamina. I've also had to cross many a creek on trails where we've had to swim the horses across.
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