OCR Text |
Show H -r- HOW HORSES SWIM. B Their Bouyancy Vurlos ni Much as That H or Human Doings. H A contributor to tho London Field B writes that swimming horses across u PpB flooded creek or river is a common and PpK 4- on somo stations almost daily occur- PpB rence in Australia during the rajny PpH season. "As u rule I havo remained K seated in the saddle while swimming B my horso across a flooded river," ho Pj says, "and havo found tho buoyancy of B the horso to vary quite as much ns H that of a human being. I havu had H some horses which would swim with B . the seat of the saddle clear above the B water, while others, on tho contrary, B swam so deeply that only tho ears, B eyes and nose wcro visible. In tho lat- PPB ter casc tlio sooner the rider slips over K tho tail tho better, if you are not in PPB tho saddle I do not think it matters B much whether you swim tit the horso's B head or his tail, or on your back, breast B or side. Of coarso tho nearer you arc B to his head tho better chance you havo B of guiding him if necessary, but as a BPB -' rulo horses will swim us fast and as B straight as they can to thu nearest B landing point. In the whole course of PPB my experience I have seen but pno B. horso unablo or unwilling to swim, and B on this occlusion tho horso turned on B f his side immediately it found itsolf in H deep water, unl refusing to roako the B slightest effort it was drowned. In my BPB opinion tho most important thing to do H when swimming any horse across a H stream is to unbuckle your snalUo rln, H and, if riding with n double-reined H bridle, cut tho stitches of tho curb rein. H Practically, tlio only danger there is H Jicsin the risk of tho horso getting his BPB forelegs entangled in tho bridle, wldcb H can easily bo avoided." |