One Big Problem...A horse that rolls...ON ME!!?

Question

i have a 4 year old paint horse and don't get me wrong i love her to death but when i ride her, she rolls on me..she never gives me a warning she just ,even at a walk, drops down and i have to get off as fast as possible i of course dissipline her but she still does it, im very concered because i don't wan't to get rid of her but i don't want to get hurt either...she rolls in tall grass, short grass, little bit of sand, or deep sand...we know the saddle isn't too tight because she does it about an hour into riding and she does it when she is tired in sweaty, i'll tell you i have gone through about 10 saddle blankets just becuase people says she gets itchy but none have worked...i've tried to brush her before i ride her, or wet her down before i ride her but she still does it... can anyone give me a good answer that can save my horse and I's relationship or should i just get rid of her...oh and please tell me if you've ever had a horse do this?

Answer 1

I agree spurs. She sounds like she needs some retraining on working. That is her way of throwing a fit, like she is done. Spurs sure will help!!!!!!

Answer 2

There was a pony at my barn that just randomly rolled and the trainer got on her too try to fix this problem by wearing big spurs that the pony didn't even need, it was just to keep her moving for sure....also they wet the entire ring down so it was just a little muddy. If that doesn't work you could take a lunge whip and lung her around with the saddle on and DON'T let her stop to roll if she tries to roll run up behind her she will be too afraid of the whip too stop and roll.

Hope this helps...please best answer!

Answer 3

well I am not sure because this has never happened to me but I did ride a horse one time that was known to roll in certain areas, but what you had to do is just keep leg pressure, to kinda say "remember I'm up here" I think its important to be touching your horse whether it be soft pressure in the legs and even noises. I dont know if you should get rid of her or not because i am sure the problem can be fixed, maybe you need to bring in a professional, or even a person who specializes in horse behavior. also if you love her to death wouldnt it be important to fix this and not just say ok  i dont want her anymore...also if she rolls...most people wont want to buy into that so even if you tried to get rid of her good luck....

Answer 4

First I would have the horse vet checked or have a choirpractor check for back problems before I started correcting in any harsh way.  It may be the horses way of telling you that she is hurting.  

If nothing shows up then find you a horse savvy person to help train you and the horse to overcome this problem before I got rid of her if you like her.  

I am like you, I get attached and it is hard to just get rid of a family pet member, expecially if you can find a way to correct the problem.

Answer 5

Right before she slows down (since she can't canter to roll immediately!) keep making her go forward. And if you say 1 hr is about when she rolls, get off after 30-45 minutes! Maybe since she's still kind of young she just doesn't have the mental capacity to concentrate for one whole hour. It's the quality of the ride, not the quantity, that counts. ;) And the chiro is a good idea too.

Answer 6

Kick and whip her. Try the ciropractor too. something could be out.

Answer 7

Maybe its a paint thing LOL I have a 15 year old Paint gelding and when he sees sand his eyes light up.  I just keep him going, he has tried to get me wrong but i through him off balance and kick.  He has rolled with others on his back, guess they didn't believe me when i told them LOL My sister had one of the OTTB we took in roll on her and she is crippled from it, so be careful.

Answer 8

This is really dangerous.  You need professional help - in person.  It sounds like a respect issue.  She decides to stop so she rolls you off and then she doesn't have to work anymore.  You say you "discipline" her but what does that mean.  If you hit her or abuse her in some way, she doesn't know that you are doing that because she rolled your off.  Her head doesn't work that way.  If you can't get help for her, let her go.  It's not worth it for you or for her.

Answer 9

A few horses learn to do this when they get tired.  They learn that by rolling the rider gets off and they go home.  

This behavior as you know is incredibly dangerous.  This is why that in this case regardless of the reason I use the reins on such a horse as if they are a lunge whip.  If the horse wants me off then I will get off and convince the horse that it is better off with me still on its back.  Now that takes care of the immediate problem.  In other word, you are telling the horse  "I don't care why you are doing that!  YOU WILLNOT DO THAT AGAIN!".  I will then give a quick spot check, get back on, finish the ride, and afterwards look for underlying reasons such as a bad fitting saddle, sore back, etc.  But the over all message to the horse will be that it will not happen again.  If you hurt then you will find a safer way to espress the pain, but you will not get me or anyone else hurt.

Over the years I have had two rollers.  One was broke of it almost immediately in the way I described.  In her case there was no pain.  The other I had only used as a brood mare and did not even know she rolled until I had already sold her.  But then I sold her as a brood mare anyway so I did not feel too bad.  (that was before horse prices went to **** and when even foals still sold very well).

Answer 10

Spurs!!!! When she starts to go down, just spur her good!!!! She needs to know that when she is going to lay she is going to get spurred good!!!

Answer 11

It sounds to me like she is just deciding that the ride is over and that she is done. You say you get off when she does this. Do you get back on? Because if you don't, she learns that she can get you off by doing this and then she doesn't have to work anymore.

As soon as she even starts to go down - puts a single knee on the ground - you send her forward into a canter or gallop. A horse that is moving can't roll. If she does make it down and you have to jump off for self preservation, you must get back on and get her moving. The ride ends when YOU say, not when she says.

If you can't get this problem under control quickly, you will need help from a trainer to get her out of this dangerous habit.

Answer 12

Dont let her! If she starts to roll start kicking her, make her move forward.  She knows now that if she rolls you will jump off and she won't have to work.  Its just  a training issue.  If kicking won't work carry a crop and use it when she starts to buckle her knees.  She needs to know that she can't get away with it and she won't try.  If she won't listen to you try having a trainer ride her.

Answer 13

Rolling is a dangerous occurance and should be stopped immediatly. My first suggestion would be to have her thoroughly checked for back or shoulder pain. If she shows any sign of soreness or discomfort after you ride have your saddle checked for proper fit and call a chiropractor out.

At this point even if you fix the "cause" your still going to be dealing with the "result", which is her rolling.

My guess is that she is just sweaty and itchy and being a young horse decided to roll. It's actually pretty common for young horses to try it. Once she got away with it, it simply became a habit. A bad habit. It's doesn't sound like she is being aggressive or disobient so much as it's just "what she does." You can change that, easily.

To cure this problem your going to be to be "proactive" instead of "reactive". By saying that I mean beating or punishing her AFTER she rolls is going to have no effect. For example....she rolls, you get off, she gets up and then you punish her....in her mind she is being punished for getting up NOT laying down because getting up was the last thing she did.

Horses learn by the release of pressure not the pressure itself so your going to have to keep the pressure on while she's trying to go down to roll. She's going to be showing some sign of laying down before she actually does, the ones I've dealt with usually, drop their head, or even turn in a circle before going down. She can't just flop out from a trot or canter, that would hurt her which she isn't going to do :-)

As soon as she starts showing the first sign of thinking about rolling, start really pushing her forward, use a crop to reinforce your commands if you must but keep her going, make her work. If she actually goes down to her knees really put the pressure on, spank her butt with the crop if you must but keep herv feet moving. Do not let her go down. Remember "you are the alpha mare and when you say move every horse moves".

Keep her going, make her do something that makes her work both her mind and body, not sure of her training level but just some work on transitions (trot, canter, trot, canter, lead change, trot, canter ect just keep changing it) in a small circle would work.

When she seems to have gotten over her "rolling idea", release all pressure, let her walk and relax. If she tries again, repeat the process. She'll learn fast enough that trying it makes her work harder not get out of work as in the past.

Answer 14

"...i've tried to brush her before i ride her, or wet her down before i ride her but she still does it... "

~~~what do you mean you've tried to brush her....you should always groom your horse before you ride, clean her feet, etc.  

~~~ And then you wet her first..the rubbing of the wet hair with the saddle on top could cause heat, abrasions, just plain uncomfortable.

"she does it about an hour into riding and she does it when she is tired in sweaty,"

~~~~could this be her way of telling you..your running me into the ground and enough is enough?  I'm only 4 years old and I'm not finished growing..quit riding me so hard.

" i'll tell you i have gone through about 10 saddle blankets just becuase people says she gets itchy but none have worked."

~~~~What type do you use?  Have you tried a nice fluffy fleece one, or is it the stiff navajo kind with no softness just scratchy wool?

Have you had someone else ride her...someone with experience like a trainer?  If so, does she still do it?  If not, I suggest you might look into getting a professional opinion.

I don't see how you don't get some sort of warning sign unless she just drops on all fours...

There must be a slight hesitation or the feeling of her starting to give towards one side, or putting her head down to sniff, move in a circle to find that spot to roll.  Some will even paw at the ground. have you ever watched a horse in a pasture go through the ritual of finding a spot to lie down?

Have you worked her in an enclosure rather than on the trails?  Does she do it then?

Before you go and start spurring and "disciplining" and really create a monster.. you should seek professional advise and assistance..especially if you like her and want to give the both of you a fair chance.

Answer 15

I have had a horse that does that and the only thing that i could find that works is when they go down have a crop when you ride and after they go down make then get up really fast and jump on and make them continue going on with what they were doing.  After a few times of that you can kinda tell if they are going to because the hesitate a little and thats when you give them a little tap on the shoulder, and say 'Get Up'.

Answer 16

This behavior is not rare but most riders on a horse that does this quickly learns to watch the horse for the typical things which signals that the horse wants to roll. And there are ALWAYS signals! When standing the horse will do things like lift a rear leg a couple times and slap it back down or maybe paw at the ground with his front legs and then sniff the ground while sweeping his head back and forth or maybe blow in the dirt with his nose and then pace around a little bit. Those are usually the first signals and they are a fairly clear signal that what comes next will be bending his knees a bit and a lean to one side as he prepares to collapse to the ground, which will be your last chance to either put that horse in motion to stop him from dropping or be prepared to jump clear when he does. Horses have a natural inclination and a need to roll for many reasons, a few of which are to stretch, to scratch, to dry themselves, and very often just for the pure pleasure of it, but it has been my experience that horses who will do it with a rider on their back is very often just seizing a rare opportunity to roll because they do not get enough turn-out exercise. I suggest you turn the horse out for exercise before you ride it if it is not being turned out daily. And of course I also suggest that when the horse is standing you be careful to watch for the obvious signs that the horse wants to roll and then get the horse moving before he does. Once he gets his nose to the ground for a minute or so and starts sniffing and blowing it is not likely you will get much of an opportunity to change his mind.

Answer 17

About an hour into riding...you mean when the pain of an ill-fitting saddle under weight has become unbearable? The timing is just right for a pain issue due to conditioning or bad tack. This is something an individual with behavioral, saddle fitting, and training know-how needs to assess and handle or you will ruin this poor horse for good. This rolling behavior is a serious matter. 1000 or so pounds rolling over a child/adult, is catastrophic.

What do you mean you've attempted to brush her before you ride? Is that a joke? Basic horsemanship 101.

Answer 18

my horses roll but usually after i have groomed them.a horse will roll for different reasons,they roll for pleasure or rest or for self cleaning or to relieve pain or discomfort.it may not be an itchy problem it could be a mounting problem or saddle problem and the horse is trying to basically put it back in alignment.does she roll on one side only or does she do a full roll from side to side,if she always rolls on the left side it is a mounting problem or you are off ballance when riding(check the length of your sturrup straps to make sure they are equal) if she rolls from side to side she is itchy from the sweat and trying to relieve herself from drying sweat,try taking a litre bottle of water with you and pour it over her when you think it is time she wants to roll.other than that you may want to take a slicker brush with you and after an hour riding stop and brush her.she needed a rest anyway.

a horse will roll no matter how hard you spur,kick,slap or whip it,it is uncomfortable so you might as well relieve the itch.

Answer 19

OK when I read this the first thing that came to mind was SPURS and I dont like them. I have always believed if you have a well trained horse than you don't need them. This is dangerous and you need to nip it in the bud. As soon as she stops spur her, Do not let her get away with this at all.