Swimming the cowboy way!

TANNER'S MOM wrote: The kids and I rode about 4-5 miles to the creek yesterday. It was so hot! We got off and swam then we gave the horses a swim too!

TANNER'S MOM replied: Another

Calimama replied: That looks so fun!! Was the water cold?

TANNER'S MOM replied: Tiffany

punkeemunkee'smom replied: That is so pretty! It looks so peaceful!

TANNER'S MOM replied: Yup the water was cold.. but fun!

sparkys2boys replied: Looks like a ton of fun! I bet the horses loved it as much as you guys too!!

My3LilMonkeys replied: Looks like lots of fun!!

kimberley replied: can i come?

gr33n3y3z replied: I miss those days
I'm glad all of you had fun

lisar replied: That looks fun.....

Kaitlin'smom replied: looks like fun. I so want to go riding again.

grapfruit replied: That's the fun way to swim! We were doing that one time and my 16.5 hand high horse stepped into a deep spot. He went from the bottom of his belly to the top of mine!! LoL

Scared us both!

TANNER'S MOM replied:
Why did it scare you? He can swim?? We all got out over our heads on horse back. Especially Tiffany. Tanner's mare is 16.5 almost 17! He has a hard time getting up there for sure. It is fun. I told the kids, we can't swim with the dolphins, but this will do on a hot day!

grapfruit replied:
Because it was unexpected We had been walking around in the creek and it got all muddied up so we couldn't see the bottom. He swam alright, we just didn't expect to get that wet.

Then one time, one of the daughters of my mom's ex boyfriend's horse (get all that? ) decided he thought it'd be nice to roll in the creek...w/her still on his back! Luckily she realized in time and stopped him.

doublebubble replied: Y'all are so lucky you can do things like that! Mine are too little, yet! Glad you have fun!

redchief replied: That looks like tons of fun. Wish I was there!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I LOVE these pictures Mel!!!! That is awesome!!!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Looks like so much fun!! Looks HOT too!

DVFlyer replied: <----- Horse noob

Can the horse swim with a rider on their back?

seeingblue2 replied: Wow that looks fun!!

MommyToAshley replied: Wow, that looks so peaceful and fun. What a great way to spend time with the kids... and I bet horses can swim better than 4-wheelers, eh?

TANNER'S MOM replied:
DV, Yes horses can swim with a rider on their back. Their is a pic of Tiffany on her back in the deep water. She had a halter and reins and was leading her. In the old "cowboy" days if they had a horse that bucked or was really lighted back they would take them to the pond and get on them. The theory being if they are over their head they can't buck, their aren't touching anything, and they would get used a rider being on their back. Who knows HOW well that worked but yes they can swim with you on their back.

redchief replied:
I imagine it worked out fine while they were in the pond!

DVFlyer replied:
Wow.... I never would have guessed. I mean I know horses can swim but I thought the weight of the rider would weigh them down.

I've ridden a few and we even had a 15/16ths Arab (1/16th Aplaloosa ) when we lived in Colorado. I didn't ride her, though... too scary for me not to have control over a horse.