# Can horses swim? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 23, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760 "2007-10-23T21:33:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/1 "2007-10-23T21:33:56Z")
Topic ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/2 "2007-10-23T21:35:29Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/3 "2007-10-23T21:39:55Z")
[Cite](http://youtube.com/results?search_query=horse+swim&search=Search) ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/4 "2007-10-23T21:41:05Z")
Swimming constitutes part of an exercise regime for many racehorses. [Link](http://www.britishhorseracing.com/inside_horseracing/racingindustry/life/racingcareer.asp). > [@](#): > > Like all modern-day athletes, racehorse trainers take advantage of the latest exercise and dietary regimes. For example, many trainers use equine swimming pools to work horses’ muscles and cardiovascular systems without putting excessive strain on their legs. ---
**Author:** ![xanthous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/53a042/32.png) [@xanthous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xanthous)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/5 "2007-10-23T22:03:16Z")
[QUOTE=ChrisBooth12] Topic [/QUOTE] Remembering the books [Stormy of Chincoteague and Misty of Chincoteague](http://www.amazon.com/Misty-Chincoteague-Stormy-Mistys-Foal-Books/dp/B000V9SCUU/ref=sr_1_9/105-7562046-2514022?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1193176315&sr=1-9) and smiling- nice childhood memory! (They and other ponies swam across the Assateague Channel every year) ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/6 "2007-10-23T22:54:48Z")
Of course. How the hell do you think they play water polo? ---
**Author:** ![snorlax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@snorlax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snorlax)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2007, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/7 "2007-10-23T23:01:49Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Of course. How the hell do you think they play water polo? [/QUOTE] On seahorses? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/8 "2007-10-24T00:36:41Z")
Horses swim fine even with a rider on top. I did it once across a crocodile infested river in Costa Rica. I mean that literally. The guide had us walking up and down the bank until we found a place where there were no visible crocs and it took a while. Riding on a swimming horse is an odd sensation especially when there are crocodiles around. The guide and I made it across the river with our horses up a steep muddy bank on the other side. However, my wife is a lifelong expert rider and her horse tumbled backwards into the river throwing her into the river as it tried to leap up the embankment. Both my wife and her horse were visibly shaken but they ended up just fine but very wet and muddy. Some horses despise water however and it is difficult to get them to look at it without getting spooked let alone swim. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/9 "2007-10-24T00:44:39Z")
[QUOTE=ChrisBooth12] Can horses swim? [/QUOTE] My wife just asked me this when we saw Elizabeth. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/10 "2007-10-24T05:26:38Z")
I’ve seen pictures of Cossacks on horseback swimming through a lake in a traditional Russian festival. Can’t remember where I saw it but it was definitely a recent photo. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/11 "2007-10-24T05:51:36Z")
[Elephants](http://www.metacafe.com/watch/332102/elephant_swimming/) can too. :o I think all mammals can swim, no? ETA: Humans excepted. I guess we think about it too much. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/12 "2007-10-24T06:45:39Z")
[QUOTE=Chez Guevara] Swimming constitutes part of an exercise regime for many racehorses. … [/QUOTE] It’s also becoming the rehabilitation of choice for horses with damaged legs, [Equine Swimming Pool](http://www.equineservicecentre.com/pool.htm), [Equine Water Treadmill](http://www.equineservicecentre.com/watertreadmill.htm). Allowing the horse to work it’s muscles and increase blood-flow to to it’s legs without the risk of putting full weight on say a screwed together and repaired but otherwise still broken bone. [Morrisville College Foundation](http://www.morrisville.edu/equinerehab/index.htm) (MCF) [Equine Rehabilitation & Physiology Center](http://www.morrisville.edu/equinerehab/Images/conceptualplan/0614%20Complexsite_0001-right.jpg) CMC+fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/13 "2007-10-24T07:18:46Z")
They can even [dive](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YddnsXsW9Kc). ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/14 "2007-10-24T08:08:54Z")
[QUOTE=ChrisBooth12] Topic [/QUOTE] I reckon you never watched a Western movie when the cowboys forded a river? Sometimes when the water is deep/swiftly moving, the rider will slip off and hang on to the tail .. but yes, horses can swim. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/15 "2007-10-24T14:54:07Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Of course. How the hell do you think they play water polo? [/QUOTE] Damn, that was funny. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/16 "2007-10-24T15:59:34Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] [Elephants](http://www.metacafe.com/watch/332102/elephant_swimming/) can too. :o I think all mammals can swim, no? ETA: Humans excepted. I guess we think about it too much. [/QUOTE] I seem to recall that giraffes can’t? ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/17 "2007-10-24T17:24:11Z")
[QUOTE=Poysyn] I seem to recall that giraffes can’t? [/QUOTE] I know no one has ever reported seeing a giraffe swim but then no one has reported throwing one into a really deep lake either… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/18 "2007-10-24T20:10:08Z")
[QUOTE=askeptic] [Elephants](http://www.metacafe.com/watch/332102/elephant_swimming/) can too. :o I think all mammals can swim, no? ETA: Humans excepted. I guess we think about it too much. [/QUOTE] [Apes can’t swim](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ability_to_swim). Which is why the humans pray for rain. ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2007, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-horses-swim/423760/19 "2007-10-24T20:35:35Z")
[QUOTE=muldoonthief] [Apes can’t swim](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ability_to_swim). Which is why the humans pray for rain. [/QUOTE] From same source: Apes are the members of the Hominoidea superfamily of primates, which includes humans… 😉