Featured Video: A Refreshing Swim

Some fun winter activities with horses include: sticking your hands in between their shoulder and their blanket until feeling returns to your frozen fingers; wrapping yourself up in a wool cooler and watching the horses in the snow from the tack room window; going indoors and standing in front of the heater drinking hot chocolate after finishing your barn chores. But if that’s not your thing, how about swimming in the lake?

Trainer Stacy Westfall and her horses were visiting Stacy’s hometown of South China, Maine this month. Winter comes early in central Maine, so it was sure to be chilly during a scheduled Nov. 5 photo shoot, just a couple of days after the first snow storm of the year. But that didn’t stop Stacy from letting her horse, Newt, take his first swim in the lake. Looks like they had fun (and in her blog, Stacy explains that they didn’t stay in very long, and warm coolers were ready for him when they reached the shore.) Now, about that hot chocolate…

Get Our Free Weekly Enewsletter About Horses

See past Featured Videos >>

Like this video? Here are others you’ll love.

Stacy Westfall’s Championship Ride
Watch the bareback and bridleless reining freestyle that made Stacy Westfall a household name.

Guy McClean and Nugget
Meet Road to the Horse champion Guy McLean and his best mate, Nugget.

Snorkeling Horses
A clever pair of horses find a fun way to escape the heat on a summer day.

Winter Trail Ride
Those tough Alaskans have no choice but to make the most of snowy weather, and that’s exactly what this rider does.

9 years ago

Horse Illustrated

Horse Illustrated is the magazine for people who are passionate about horses. Each issue offers advice on horse health and care, plus user-friendly training tips for both English and western riders and engaging lifestyle features for horse lovers.

Next The Royal Winter Fair Belongs on Your Bucket List »

Previous « Ask the Vet: Monitoring a Horse's Weight in Winter

View Comments

Galadriel says:

November 22, 2014 at 11:42 pm

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Cindy says:

November 26, 2014 at 9:36 am

nope, not me!
Marion says:

January 31, 2015 at 6:18 am

July or August up there maybe??? November, heck no! You're a brave woman Stacy! Hope that neither of you got sick!
Kathy says:

April 14, 2015 at 5:34 am

I think we've all done that as kids and even adults, but in July and Aug! Not November, you're a brave woman Stacy!
Annie says:

April 18, 2015 at 5:40 am

Had to have been cold, no thank you!