Hitting the Pool - the Benefits of Swimming for Thoroughbreds

Racehorses and swimming, yes it’s a thing!

We recently posted on our Facebook page about the benefits of swim training for our horses, so we thought we’d take the opportunity to share some more information. Our own purpose built pool is about to kick back into operation as we head into the warmer months and will form part of the regular training routine for our horses in both preparation and recovery.

Just like humans, horses benefit from both the performance based and recovery benefits of swimming including:

• Improved cardiovascular and respiratory systems

• Helps overall endurance

• Improves overall athletic ability

• Engages the whole body, without putting pressure on joints

• Strengthens tendons & muscles and helps to repair tendons and muscles

The other great thing about swimming? The horses love it! Especially on a hot summer day, or as a post race recovery.

The use of equine therapy pools isn’t new, but the use of swimming as part of a well rounded training program is gaining momentum as the overall benefits become so well known. As well as aiding in physical fitness and recovery, the pool can also be great for a horses’s psychological health, particularly when recovering from injury as it allows them to keep active and add some spice to their track work routines.

Here are a few images (courtesy of the Examiner) of Smoke n’ Whiskey (now retired) during his Launceston Cup preparation a few years ago.