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geo123

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Ok, so i have a 9 year old, gelding who is a quarter horse. Recently he has started to want to get down and roll when i am riding him (well this is what i think hes doing)! He hasnt actually got fully down, but he stomps, and scrapes both feet on the ground and stretches out his legs as if hes going to drop and roll, does anyone know what i should do, why hes doing this or have experienced this? This is only the 3rd time he as ever done this, which is very out of character, he only seems to do it when you have halted and ask him to walk on again or when he gets wound up when you ask him to do a more complex movement and he doesnt understand! He has done it in the field, outdoor arena and the indoor so its not the surface!! we have recently got a new saddle a few months ago and it all seems to fit perfect! I also rode once without a saddle and he did it again, so surely its nothing to do with his current saddle:) I dont know what it could be, please someone help, this is so out of character!!!!
 
Do you put a thick numnah under the saddle? It could be that he's getting very sweaty and itchy under his saddle so wants to roll. If you're sure the saddle is a good fit, experiment with different numnahs, always sticking to natural materials where possible. If he does feel as if he's going to roll you need to get his head up and kick him on immediately. If he rolls with his saddle on he could hurt himself AND his saddle!
 
When he did this did you get off the first couple of times? I think Box Of frogs is probably right about him being itchy - at least at first. But also horses are clever creatures sometimes. He might have figured out that having done this once or twice because he itches it is actually a really good way to get you to stop what you are doing. If it was just the itches he would do it anyway - whether he was wound up or not. From your description it sounds like an evasion. You do need to rule out pain. but never discard bloody mindedness!
 
Years ago, on my very first hack out with my 4 year old, he did the same thing so I got off and he proceeded to roll in his saddle!!!! Because he had been quite fresh and 'up for it' we had given him a nice long trot and I think he just got hot and sweaty so this was his remedy for cooling down. Not sure what the weather has been like where you are but here it has been exceptionally hot and humid so maybe he was trying to cool down.
 
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