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Discussion on Rolling?
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Member:
Gwen
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Posted on Monday, Dec 11, 2006 - 7:50 pm:
Sorry if I am monopolizing the board lately!!! I have (hopefully) my final question for a long time: my qh ( with many issues) needs to have the perfect footing to feel comfortable rolling. In his new digs, he isn't comfortable enough and hasn't rolled in a while. My question is how detrimental to a horse is it to go without rolling???
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Member:
Hwood
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Posted on Monday, Dec 11, 2006 - 8:23 pm:
Hmmm . . . well, at least you don't have to worry about him getting a twisted gut . . .
Seriously, Gwen, I don't know the answer to your question, but is it possible for you to buy a few bags (or tubes) of sand and pour them at a spot in his paddock or pasture?
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Member:
Sswiley
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Posted on Monday, Dec 11, 2006 - 8:33 pm:
Gwen, first of all, theses are horse people you are talking to. I have never met a horse person (except maybe and overworked vet) that didnt LOVE to share their opinion. The more active this site is, the more intersting for everyone.
About the rolling, are you saying that he doesnt even lie down to rest? Or he just doesnt do the rolling part. The rolling part is just itching themselves, a good currying can take care of that. As far as not lying down to rest. . . there was a good thread recently about aged horses who had to do all their dozing standing. Cant remember what it was called but it was less than a week ago. Do the "last week posts" search and you should find it.
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Member:
Gwen
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Posted on Monday, Dec 11, 2006 - 9:04 pm:
Rolling and lying down have always been tricky for him. It is apparently something that goes along with PSSM. He is actually very scary and sad to watch going down.
The barn owner put sand down for the boys before I came. She had created a paddock for them. It froze this past week though, and for some reason hasn't thawed.
I went back and looked at the sleeping post Shelley. Interesting!
Still not sure if I am really doing my guy a disservice by having him in a spot that he doesn't like to go down. With him, I often am looking at a lesser of evils.
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Member:
Mrose
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Posted on Monday, Dec 11, 2006 - 9:06 pm:
I wish some of my horses didn't roll! The minute they are clean they roll at the first opportunity in the dirtiest place they can find!
Horses do seem to love to roll; I think it's a grooming thing, kind of like birds and their dust baths. I don't think not rolling is detrimental to them, though.
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Member:
Gwen
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 6:26 am:
Well, it is funny Sara. What prompted me to write about this is someone at my barn commented on how shiny he is. Although I love him looking shiny and handsome, I LOVE to see him wiggling around on the ground and getting dirty because it looks like it is so good for him to move his muscles like that.
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Member:
Ajudson1
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 7:26 am:
I've read that rolling helps adjust their spine? I know I love to twist from side to side when I first wake up, laying flat on my back. It seems to get the kinks out for the day and energize me. I would think that would be the same for any animal plus it would be like a massage too.
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Member:
Canter
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 7:53 am:
I think too that in the summer a good rolling and coat of dirt serves to protect horses from biting insects. So, if he's not rolling around by summer, you may need to be a bit more diligent with the fly spray to keep him comfortable.
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 11:53 am:
When horses have spent most of their life tied to a post, say living in a stall or in small areas they tend to stand all the time.
I found that old arthritic horses do lie down to sleep providing they have a deep bed well banked at the sides, and they do roll although they rarely go all the way around, in fact there is an ol' market saying that you can price a horse by the way it rolls!
Some of the reasons for rolling are to scent themselves as part of the herd as when they roll in the muck heap; usually the leader rolls in a place and then the rest of the herd follow suit, hence rolling after a bath! Ugh I smell of human yikes!
When is cold they roll on the mod which when dry cakes up and works as an insulating coat, smart hey
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Member:
Gwen
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 1:12 pm:
Yes, Liliana I have heard the flopping over theory too. Interestingly enough, when he does roll he sometimes flops over...
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Member:
Liliana
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 1:59 pm:
Oh btw there is another saying... Shiny horse healthy horse!
That is providing you don't cheat and smear them in baby oil...
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 6:06 pm:
I kept wondering why my horse is the only clean one at our barn.Our horses always roll after a ride especially with their winter coats. All the others looked for a nice muddy spot to roll, mine went to the hay pile(we have about 6 round bales out at all times) and found a nice clean spot with plenty of hay too roll in. LOL. Now I know he is smart. He gets a nice scratch from the hay.
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Member:
Gwen
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 7:03 pm:
Well, he is so shiny because of all the oil he gets!!
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Member:
Sswiley
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 7:42 pm:
Actually My guy has been on the EPSM diet for a year not and I have decided that he is also waterproof!
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Member:
Kthorse
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2006 - 7:55 pm:
My guy also gets lots of oil in his diet maybe thats another reason he is so clean and shiny. That and not rolling in mud. Horses with oil in the diet seem to get a coat like a seal. Yes like Shelly says waterproof.
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