Horse Going Down! Why do horses roll? Westernaires - Jefferson County, Colorado
Like 1 Dislike 0 Published on 24 Jan 2014
Westernaires is a great equestrian organization for the young people of Jefferson County, Colorado. And, old people (like me!) can help out in a number of ways in addition to just enjoying the weekly "adult" ride now and then. In this video my ride, "Rebel" (#62) enjoyed a roll in the dirt after a busy hour of bareback riding.
What precipitates this equine behavior, why do horses roll?
Horses may roll for countless reasons, here are some of the answers:
1.Dealing with Abdominal Pain (A horse with colic should be prevented from rolling, as this may encourage intestinal twisting or life-threatening impactions.)
2. Rolling on the ground is a natural form of self-grooming for horses and is a means of drying rain-soaked or sweat-soaked coats. (horses will even roll in the dirt or mud immediately after cleansing in water!)
3. Gaining Natural Sunscreen (Horses may sunburn, especially on their muzzles and other thinly covered areas)
4. Guarding Against Insects
5. Horses are social creatures, rolling is a social behavior, demonstrating both trust and social position.
6. Resisting Uncomfortable Tack
7. Scratching Their Backs
8. Shedding Winter Coats
9. Rolling on the ground is excellent exercise for a horse, stretching his back, barrel, buttocks, flanks, legs, neck, spine and more.
Here's is the main webpage for Westernaires:
Here is my personal webpage about pets and animals:
http://www.rogerwendell.com/pets.html
01-22-2014