Great article! I'm just wondering if there are certain types of sand that are better than others for rolling in. I have an area I've set up with some very fine clay sand that the horse boarding at our farm LOVES to roll in. Problem is the owner thinks its too fine, it too hard to brush, worried that it gets in their eyes, ears, nose...that being said there is also a regular sand area at the other side of the pasture that the horse NEVER rolls in. I would think if the fineness of the sand in the clay area bothered the horse it would use the regular sand area to roll. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions regarding the type of sand that is best for the horse?? Thanks
Posted By: Sheila Etches
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I would just like to point out that horses often roll violently if they are in extreme pain/discomfort. If a horse is rolling constantly and is in distress IT IS SOMETHING TO BE ALARMED ABOUT! It is one of the sighs of COLIC and you should contact your vet if the animal has an elevated heart rate sweating and difficulty breathing. Keep an eye on your horse if it begins to roll or thrash. I work doing ICU at an equine surgery and deal with many colic's. It should be mentioned by someone on this website My father is also an equine surgeon. Lastly pregnant mares DO NOT ROLL TO REPOSITION THE FOAL FOR BIRTH. If your mare is rolling and is pregnant you should keep an eye on her.
Posted By: Andrew Barnes
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Thanks for the information, I am a new horse owner and thought my Thoroughbred had colic. After read this, it looks like he is just a healthy young horse. Thanks...
Posted By: LANCE C. JONES
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Old cowboys told me you could tell a horse's value by how many times he would roll from side to side. Now I know why. It really was a sign of health.
Posted By: Carlynne Allbee
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this article allows other veiwers to become more aware of what thier horse or pony is up to. It is great for people to share their horsey experience.
Posted By: Jodie Miller
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I have also heard that pregnant mares roll to turn the baby to prepare it for delivery.
Posted By: J Azevedo
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I had a TB mare that I got from a place that had her kept in a stall all the time. She had a sway back and was sore a lot. When I got her, I gave her a special time every day that I would take her into the sand arena on a lunge line and she would roll. At first she could only roll on one side, but after a few weeks she started rolling over to the other side and now her back is much healthier and less sore. I'm able to ride her again :)
Posted By: Katie Lehmgren
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