I hadn't seen this old thread before. It brings back memories! When I was in my twenties there was a sod farm with a water reservoir across from the place where I boarded my horses, and on hot days we would jump on bareback, with only halters and lead ropes for control (didn't want to get the bridles soaked), and ride over there for a swim. The pond was 15 feet deep in the middle, and we used to swim across it. Once the horses lost the bottom, the water would stream over their backs as they stretched their necks out to swim. We would grab fistfuls of mane and float alongside them, making sure to be in the right spot to slide back on as they hit the shallows and scrambled up the bank. Good times!
