Pat Parelli: teaching a horse to enter the water

For many riders to ride bareback along the shore of a pond on a hot summer day is a very attractive prospect. An amazing, fabulous picture … only if the horse enters the water with pleasure. And if not?

“A water barrier can be one of the most frustrating and dangerous obstacles in your horse’s life,” says Pat Parelli.

Many horses are skeptical of crossing the water, unless of course this is not their usual occupation. Horses are true survival experts, and they are extremely susceptible to changes in their environment. Water can make even a confident horse doubt, because it is difficult for her to determine the depth. Continue reading →