HELP! Puddle will EAT me, no really it Will!

Have you had the chance to follow a more experienced horse that will walk right thru the water?

Not yet, my trail riding buddy is a timid rider who won't go first. But I am hoping to try that once I can get someone else to ride trail with me when it's wet again.

Are puddles the only water you have to contend with?

Because in my experience, most horses will evade and go around small puddles if they can, even those who would willingly cross any larger stream or river.

Because they can.

And, to give them credit... if we have a choice, we don't walk in puddles either, if we can easily go around them.   Can't fault their logic.

If I have a horse who will cross rivers when they matter, I don't sweat the small puddles, I choose my battles.

If, on the other hand, you want to create a water crossing to either test or conquer water crossings in general, then my suggestion is make them bigger, not smaller.  It's actually easier to get them to step into a bigger puddle than one they could easily step around or jump over.

When it's raining and the whole world is a puddle, they just live with them, don't they?

My two cents.

hmmm...my horse doesnt like to step in water either but he's a pretty boy so hes not afraid of it,
when your riding and you come across a good sized puddle let him smell it first then keep your voice light and dont tense up and ask him forward if he moves to step around it or jump it stop him and ask him forward again, pretty soon he'll step in it, and  what i do if the puddle is big enough is i have my horse stand in it for a minute and relax so he know it wont eat him LOL
and just in case that doesnt work or he freaks out, you can find a stream or something and ask him to cross that if he doesnt want to keep him moving right by the edge of the water, make him pace by the water or somethingfor a few mintues then while he is still moving direct him toward the water and because he was already moving he should walk right in if he doesnt keep him moving but dont turn him away from the water he always has to be looking at the water
Good luck!!!

Whoa!  I thought it was just Stb's who are hot-house orchids who won't dip their toe into water!  In the book Animals in Translation the author describes the effect light has on the water and how sensitive most livestock are to that.  So we might be seeing it as them not liking the water when it could be their reaction to the reflection of the light.  It is sort of moving and sparkly.  Not that it explains how to overcome it.....  Maybe wait till the sun goes down.  []

Hunter is right about the way that they see water.  Stepping in puddles can be tricky to horses, but its important to overcome.  When I ride, I set the horse on a straight line path.  If a puddle is next to my path, we don't worry about it, if its in my path, we go through it.  It has a lot to do with trust in the rider as well as understanding that puddles aren't there to swallow them whole.  When I first approach a puddle with a baby, I basically set up walls on each side with my legs.  If the horse hasn't learned to completely respect those aids, then they aren't ready to cross water with a rider on board.  It doesn't have to be a stressfull beat them through situation, but more of an opportunity.  Once the doors get closed side to side and back, and they are respectful of those aids, then they will trust your opinion and simply move foward.  This is something I usually address with the first puddle I come to with a horse.  When I get on a horse that has walked around puddles forever, then it takes a little longer and I may do some basic work before I throw the challenge at them.

This is a problem that many, many people face and can be aggrivating when they step around a puddle only to bash your knee into a waiting tree.
 
There are some things to remember from the horses point of view and its important to think of things as they do in order for our training to be effective.  The more they trust our training, the calmer they will get not only with the object at hand but with everything else also.  Place one hand over your right eye, now look at the puddle of water.  Do you see the difference?  Can't tell how deep it is can you and not only that but the light is being reflected off of the surface giving it the apperence of movement.
 
Now armed with that you can move on to groundwork.  Groundwork is the foundation for trust.  I would start with something simple like teaching him how to flex both laterly and verticly so that he willingly gives to the halter when you ask.  Second teach him how to calmly move away from you with lounging.  Teach him that where you point is where he goes, no questions asked.  I usually ask them to start going between the arena wall and myself, loading in trailers (without getting in yourself) and then move on to sending them over tarps.  I also like ot get them use to empty milk jugs on the ground as well as boxes.  Why?  Well the empty boxs and milk jugs move and make noise around their feet which is usually where a horses water fear comes from.  Their legs which is a means of life to them is suddenly disapearing underneath them into heaven only knows what.  The tarp gives them the noise and movement of crossing water.  Water splashes and ripples when they step in as the tarp crakles and drags.
 
Start small and build up to the water crossings.  Get him to really listen and move where you want him on the ground BEFORE moving on to undersaddle.  It is safer for both you and your horse, not to mention he will be more willing to trust in your judement.  Good luck and stay safe.