Heh... I don't know how far Bay would go either...
Chico loved it.... my Arabs never really swam more than a stride. They'd go, but they'd stop when they couldn't touch and turn around. Chico just kept going, he'd swim clear out far like it was easy for him. I was never able to repeat that in another horse, so he might have been unusual.
I'd imagine it's great conditioning. No impact, good cool workout.
I can get him to cross our creek with no problem. But he knows it now. I think Rusty would just jump right in. He loves water. Rocky wouldn't go in either. I have to make him stand in the creek to cool off. Given a choice he'll just go right out.
Becky