Aspiring race pony Milly likes nothing better than swimming a few laps of the pool at the Horse Health Farm at Rathmell.

Swimming for horses is much like swimming for people – an excellent all-round exercise.

Gentle on the joints, yet an effective cardio-vascular workout, it is the perfect way for people – and horses – to get fit.

And for Milly – real name Millpond Look So Different – swimming is a very useful build-up exercise for the show season and for her new career in the growing sport of pony racing.

The horse health farm – a sort of equine Champneys – is owned and run by farmers Stuart and Gail Currie.

The couple started up their therapy centre in 1991 as a diversification business to the farm. It is now also home to Dalehead Veterinary Group’s equine section and an on-site farrier.

At the time, it was the only centre in the North of the country with a hydrotherapy pool, and quickly became popular with race horse trainers and competition horse owners.

“It was very busy in the early days, the benefits of swimming for horses was widely known and at that time ours was the only pool in the North,” said Stuart.

The pool at Rathmell was specially made to the Curries’ specifications and unlike other equine pools, is circular, rather than straight, to allow for continuous swimming.

The pool is 12 feet deep and is exactly the same as a pool for humans – other than it is not heated.

Before they swim, the horses have a session on the electronic walker – to warm them up before they enter the water.

The Curries have so far never come across a horse or pony that absolutely refuses to swim.

“We’ve never had a horse that wouldn’t go in and swim, but they all seem to have their own way of swimming,” said Stuart.

“Different breeds seem to swim in different ways and Arab horses seem to take a long time to learn, but once they’ve got it, they’re very good. We had one Arab that did 100 laps of the pool.”

And it’s not just horses that benefit from a swim – it can also be used for greyhounds or show dogs.

Following a session in the pool, it was off to the solarium for Milly and a gentle drying off.

The infra red and ultra violet lights are not only a gentle way to dry horses off, but can also be used as a treatment on their own – to improve circulation after an injury.

Horses appear to enjoy the sensation, and have been known to drop off to sleep.

Horses and ponies come to the farm for a week or two in preparation for the show, eventing or racing season, and also to recover after injury.

A fitness stay at the health farm can also be worked into a horse’s normal fitness work – so taking out some of the tedious walking and trotting needed to build up muscles and stamina.