Q&A Mind matters
Our experts
Catherine Bell is an equine behaviourist and helps to co-ordinate the Equine Behaviour and Training Association.
Angie Jones-Moore SNHS Dip is a certified life coach with a particular interest in equestrianism.
Jane Brindley works with riders at all levels using hypnotherapy, psychotherapy and NLP.
Walk in water
How can I safely introduce my horse to water jumps?
Emma Brown
Photos: Jon Stroud
TOP TIP
When training your horse, always try to see things from his perspective. Jumping into water of unknown depth for no reason won’t make sense to him and could be a very dangerous move, so it’s important to be patient as he learns to trust what you’re asking.
A Catherine Bell answers: When teaching a horse to jump into water you need to first make sure he’s happy to walk into it, so that should be your starting point. Normally it’s easier for the horse if he can follow an experienced equine companion. He may then want to drink, splash or explore, which should be encouraged. As with all tasks, horses need to learn slowly and gradually in small stages and, ideally, with rewards – or at least a break – after each step. Only when your horse is genuinely relaxed with the current step should you progress to the next.