Horses can swim

[Risteard]

Like the title says.
Is this common knowledge?

Was out in the wesht at the weekend and the girlfs father was telling me about a guy that swims his horses across to an island.

Being an elderly man and a bit of a character I thought he'd either lost his marbles or was taking the proverbial out of me.

Well didn't he drive me down to the marina and low and behold some fella was sailing out to the island with 3 horses in tow, well into their breaststroke they were.

I nearly ****ed myself.

Came home and told people who either went "Ya, i know" (mostly her friends from home and the odd bogger friend i have) or were in the same utter disbelief that I was.



So am i just copping on to the obvious or . . . . . . . . . ?

[Macy]

So am i just copping on to the obvious or . . . . . . . . . ?
I would've thought it was common knowledge. Sure the big equestrian hospitals even have swimming pools that they use for recovery.

Along the Shannon they'd swim the cattle out to the islands too for the summer...

[Dodge]

Have you never seen a western where they swim across the river?

[Peadar]

Risteard, did you grow up in the city?
You do know that milk comes from cows, not bottles?

[Wiseguy]

Some of the best stamina training a horse can get is swimming.All the top race horse trainers in the country have either a pool or access to an area where the horse can swim.

[Risteard]

Have you never seen a western where they swim across the river?I've seen Westerns where they drown crossing the river.

So noone is surprised by this?
Ya, born and raised naive City boy.

[BohsPartisan]

Er, why wouldn't they be able to swim?

[Risteard]

Because it's not a common sight and they don't look like the swimming sort.

[the 12 th man]

Most horses see no reason to enter the ocean--there's nothing to eat,
they can't drink the water, and they'd have a hard time escaping
predators. However, in warm areas with small waves, some horses can
actually enjoy ocean swimming. If you've dreamed of swimming with your
horse, follow these safety tips. (For tips on riding on the beach, see
"Trailwise," Horseman's Handbook, Horse & Rider, August '02.)"
http://www.equisearch.com/sports/trailriding/eqhraug22432/



From Google Answers

[stann]

Because it's not a common sight and they don't look like the swimming sort.

:D :D
Ah well then...
Better not tell the horses so anyone, if they realise mid-stream that they really can't swim after all there'll be mayhem! :D

Next week: Bumble Bees actually able to get off the ground!

[the 12 th man]

Next week: Bumble Bees actually able to get off the ground!


:D Quality..

[Risteard]

Next week: Bumble Bees actually able to get off the ground!

Well i wasn't the only one surprised.












*waiting patiently for one person in agreement.

[Magicme]

I am surprised. Very surprised.



















That you didnt know this b4. Ya townie ya.

[jebus]

Jesus, I'm the perennial city boy and even I knew that one :p

[Risteard]

Waiting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Just Bohs Partisan and Dodge posted yet so I'm actually hopeing a Dub will bail me out of this one.

[paul_oshea]

Does anyone think Risteard, has been watching INto the West year on year? and possibly on rewind!!

[Risteard]

Well i know they can use elevators.

[NeilMcD]

Because it's not a common sight and they don't look like the swimming sort.

There are a lot of things that are a not a common sight that do happen like Bohs playing good football.

[noby]

Actually, bees are becoming scarce. It seems WiFi might be disorientating them. A lot of the hives are empty, and plants aren't being pollinated.

[DmanDmythDledge]

I'm in the same boat as Risteard. Thought this thread was going to be some sort of píss take.

[OneRedArmy]

In fairness, horses are like big dogs and dogs can swim, so it logically follows that horses should also be able to swim*.


*Obviously I'm not a vet or otherwise qualified in equine mechanics, but it makes sense in my head :D

[Wolfie]

So to coin a phrase "You can lead a horse to water, but Danger here!! - he might swim away on you".

Can the *******s Jet Ski? - now that I'd like to see!!

[Risteard]

Good man Dmyth.
Did you know this Wolfie?


In fairness, horses are like big dogs
Come on now.

[Wolfie]

Good man Dmyth.
Did you know this Wolfie?


Come on now.

I'd never delved into the whole swimming horses issue too deeply upto now. :)

So, as its election time, I'll couch my answer in a TD's style:

"I'm glad you asked me that Risteard. The swimming horses issue is complex. It's true I was not consciously aware that they could swim - without arm bands. However, I had never actually doubted that, hypothetically - they could swim, if they wanted to.

So yes, to clear this up, I didn't know they could swim and Yes - I did know."

I trust this answers the question.

[BohsPartisan]

Actually, bees are becoming scarce. It seems WiFi might be disorientating them.

It was only a matter of time before insects started getting caught in the World Wide Web!

[OneRedArmy]

It was only a matter of time before insects started getting caught in the World Wide Web!Another PoTM :D

[Risteard]

100% reliable wikipedia is emphatic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ability_to_swim#Horses).
Horses are very powerful swimmers.

Also, I'd another argument about what the plural is of horse.
It was started by someone telling me that horse was the plural of horse.
While two bored and frustrated onlooking girlfriends groaned 'its horses', I decided to take up the case of 'Its obviously cavalry'.

[paul_oshea]

Another PoTM :D

Not really, WiFi has "nothing" to do with the world wide web.

[BohsPartisan]

Not really, WiFi has "nothing" to do with the world wide web.

Not if you're pedantic.

[OneRedArmy]

Not really, WiFi has "nothing" to do with the world wide web.
Spoil the buzz.....

[paul_oshea]

hehe, it was just crap ;P

only messin! :D

[Lim till i die]

Jesus, I'm the perennial city boy and even I knew that one :p

Ya but Limerick city is full of horses ;)


In fairness, horses are like big dogs and dogs can swim, so it logically follows that horses should also be able to swim*.

Reminds me of (Not sure why) the film set in the Simpsons:

"Cows don't look like cows on screen, you gotta use horses"

"And what if you want a horse?"

"Ah, we usually tape a bunch of cats together"

:D

[Erstwhile Bóz]

Don't mind them, Risteard. I didn't think it was common knowledge at all (though obviously I've known for ages).

[tricky_colour]

They are terrible at the backstroke though.

[John83]

Actually, bees are becoming scarce. It seems WiFi might be disorientating them. A lot of the hives are empty, and plants aren't being pollinated.
*cough* Bull**** *cough*

[onenilgameover]

I remember watching a crazy clip show of a horse race...the horse in the race lost its rider and went berserk...it lashed through the barriers of the course and just kept veering right. up ahead a big pond comes into view...The horse has lost it now and really has no idea whats going on. He's firing up to the pond and plonk he's gone! disappeared! obliterated! He barely made the pond ripple. It was one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen. That horse was not a powerful swimmer.

[noby]

*cough* Bull**** *cough*
Ok, perhaps I should have said 'Someone's theory is that...'

Although in hindsight, the lack of wildflowers and hedgerows, intensive farming, and a mite might be the better 'theory'.


*note to self: don't take the word of a 'scientist's' soundbite as fact*

[John83]

Ok, perhaps I should have said 'Someone's theory is that...'

Although in hindsight, the lack of wildflowers and hedgerows, intensive farming, and a mite might be the better 'theory'.


*note to self: don't take the word of a 'scientist's' soundbite as fact*
The article that came from quoted thoroughly discredited theories of the effects of cell phones on humans. The Colony Collapse Disorders which prompted the speculation in the first place are commonplace - there are many, many recorded instances in the last century. There is no correlation between mobile phone usage and die-offs - areas of denser phone usage than the US like Britain and Ireland haven't experienced these recently. There are many other potential causes like stress from moving hives, black queen cell virus, habitat disruption, pesticides, (ironically) pests, bee paralysis virus, transposons and the current favourite, a parasitic fungus called Nosema ceranae (http://www.latimes.com/news/la-sci-bees26apr26,0,7437491.story?track=mostviewed-storylevel).

[Raheny Red]

I'm in the same boat as Risteard. Thought this thread was going to be some sort of píss take.

Me too! Cheers for clearing it up everyone :D

[Schumi]

I was expecting a hilarious youtube video, pity.

[John83]

I was expecting a hilarious youtube video, pity.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IUU_oOBZKko