After a few uneventful rides, seek more challenging trips, such as crossing mud puddles or shallow streams. Because horses will always go around rather than through water, pick the spot for this lesson with care. Don’t ask the horse to go through a mud puddle, for instance, when dry ground is on both sides. Instead, find a place where there’s no alternative but to cross at the spot you’ve chosen. Your horse may still not want to cross, but no other options will be available.

I remember watching, perplexed, when one of the riders on a trail ride decided she would teach her horse to go through a water puddle that the horse was avoiding. The only problem was that the puddle was in the center of the trail with firm, dry ground on both sides. The woman became exasperated and then angry when the horse refused the water route and opted for dry land.
She didn’t realize that the horse was following age-old instincts. Why should it go through water when a dry route was available? The supposed lesson ended with the horse never setting foot in the water and the woman finishing the ride still frustrated and angry.

When you approach water for the first time, you want the horse to realize that no other options exist other than going through the water. A shallow stream where the horse can see the bottom works best for a first-time crossing water.

With our method, my wife Linda leads the way on her gelding, with me right behind on the inexperienced trail horse. If the new horse is nervous and apprehensive, Linda might ride her gelding into the stream and stop him. I bring the novice horse up behind and let him look at the water and realize that Linda’s horse isn’t the least bit worried. Then, Linda will ride across the stream, and I will urge my horse to follow. Sometimes novice horses follow immediately