Testing the water
WHEN it comes to equine swimming, it seems we’re awash with anecdote and opinion rather than hard evidence. Working with the science available, however, experts agree swimming can play a part in conditioning and rehabilitation.
“The main perceived advantage is minimal musculoskeletal stress,” says Patrick Pollock FRCVS. “Objective data on this is noticeably lacking, with no evidence to support the claim that horses which are regularly swum have greater cardiovascular fitness.
“However, there is evidence that concentrations of muscle enzymes may be a little lower for horses in training that regularly swim, versus those with no access to a pool, suggesting that there is less muscle damage and inflammation than with high-intensity, land-based exercise.
