rolling?!

[emgog]

Why do horses roll? Ne on know?

[Outrider]

Why does any animal roll? Because it feels good! Horses roll to get rid of an itch, flies or to take a dust bath in order to dry themselves. That is the good things about rolling. A bad thing is when a horse rolls and refuses to get up. A sure sign of colic and if you don't get him up, he can literally twist his intestine in two! Happy Trails!

[Peace]

I also knew a mischievous little Arabian who would roll on his back and kick his feet in the air whenever he got into trouble with the boss mare in his pasture. I don't know if it was a sign of submission, as in dogs, or if he was pitching a tantrum because she wouldn't let him have whatever he was charging toward (which was usually either food or me), but she'd move into his path, fix him with a disapproving glare, and he'd stop, drop, and roll!

[liz--y]

they do it to keep warm in the winter because it traps air under there coats, think it works the other way in the summer, it also helps keep there coat healty.

[Maci]

Oh Outrider, don't remind me of a "dust bath"!

I remember one time after a ride on a hot day, I washed Mac and made him all pretty, and turned him out into the paddock wet (so he could air dry while being with his friends). Bad idea! As soon as I turned to walk away, he dropped down in the dirtiest and dustiest part of the paddock,and rolled! :rolleyes: I knew this was a sign of him being healthy and happy....but that was the time I wanted to kill him! It was hot and sweaty and it took a lot out of me to wash him, and he made him self dirty again! :confused:

Maci :)

[Moonlightrider]

Most of the horses at my barn are so used to people and unthreatened that they'll let you come into their stalls and pet them while they're resting. Bubba and Alf have fallen asleep being petted!

[Outrider]

Bob the WonderBeast does the same thing. I usually use a water scraper after I hose him off to get most of the excess water off. I find that he won't roll quite as often if I do this. You might try it. Happy Trails!

[Wally]

Most of our nags will all roll in the same bit of the park, I've heard it suggested that it transfers the smell of the herd from one horse to the other.

[Maci]

Outrider, thanks for the tip, however I used a water scraper, but still he showed no mercy! The next day I went to see him, he was a little dust cloud, with dirt and dust everywhere, sticking to his body! :rolleyes: That day, though, I was smarter and took him out to eat grass in the sun with a lead rope, to dry off (with my watchful eye!)! I'd rather him roll...when he's dry!

Maci :)

[Katie_85]

I remember one time after a particularly hot Florida afternoon my instructor had just hosed off the school horse and he was dripping wet so of course he goes and rolls in a big dust pile. That pretty white horse came back and nice shade of grey. Ick!:eek: :)

[Gracie]

My two year old filly couldn't wait to rolll!
Me and boyfriend(who isn't the biggest horse fan but does like them) gave her a bath..(It took us an hour because my horse isn't the biggest water fan!) I think we were more wet than her by the end and Gracie stood on his toe during that time to AHHH! But by the end she looked great So I took her back to her stall to let her eat some hay and juss relax for a bit.. well she didn't even want to wait till she got outside... She rolled right in her stall.. The little shaving stuck to her like crazy!! Ewww.. then she rolled again outside! YUCK! LOL! It was a lost cause I guess! tehee!

[Dizzy]

Horses are herd members, if you've washed them you've taken away the herd scent, they roll on herd territory to remain one of the herd.

When they're out with the herd and roll, they're having a good scratch, and shifting dead hairs ie grooming.

To horses, scent is a mark of belonging - thats why when we've spent lots of time disinfecting the floor and mucking out, making sure they have a nice clean bed to come in to, what do they do? a great big pee, much to our disgust, but it re-establishes thier territory. which gives security.

So as much as it may feel as if they are deliberatly undoing all your good work in sprucing them up and making them look good, they are really only actually behaving instinctively and making themselves secure in their surroundings.

Humans and horses have two diferent views about the ideal way to smell - personally I prefer soap and deodarant, my horse seems to prefer mud/dust and what ever scent a communal rolling patch leaves.

Lesley