Horse digging muddy hole then frantically rubbing head in it!

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Marigold4

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New horse behaved very strangely today. One minute she was fine in field, then next minute she was digging a big muddy hole into the fairly pristine grass and was rolling over and over in it rubbing her head into the mud so now her head is completely (and I mean completely - ears, eyes, nostrils) covered in mud. She was getting herself in a state about it. Brought her in steaming and kept an eye on her in the stable in case of colic but she's fine and quiet in stable. It was as though she NEEDED to cover her head in mud. Anyone seen a horse do this before?
 
There was a horse on my yard that did the same. Always created a wallow and submerged head in it and covered itself head to toe in thick mud. Had to be hosed off rug and all. Nothing wrong with the horse.
 
The exracer we harboured for a bit would find a puddle, dig it deeper and roll... But he was happy while he was doing that rather than frantic. Also my white grey mare get mud all over her face and scrubs her head and neck into the ground when she rolls. Again utterly delighted with herself rather than frantic though.
 
Thank you for replies. Reassuring to know that she is not the only one. She'd been trotting around and got herself hot and itchy under her rug I think, then fancied a roll. At her previous home, fields were clay so lots of mud. New home is highly deficient being on chalk and not at all muddy. Solution? Dig yourself a hole to roll in. I remember when I went to see her before buying that she looked as though nobody bothered much with grooming her. Her old owner sighed and said "well, that's the best I can do" as she put the brush down. I think perhaps she IS a hippo and I am going to spend rest of my days knocking mud off her thoroughbred self.
 
Seems odd that she was so frantic and got herself steaming about it. Are you rugging her more than in previous home, maybe she panicked because she got too warm? Could you text her previous owner and ask it that is normal for her? I would keep an eye on that if she got herself into a state. I have a hippo but she stays happy and relaxed while turning herself into a mud pie. To me it would suggest some type of discomfort, either too hot or maybe an annoying itch somewhere on her face.

just remembered you said she had been trotting round and got herself hot, mine have been racing around in lightweight rugs today but didn't get hot. Maybe try a lighter rug and see if this helps.
 
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I think people are right about her getting too hot. She had been in her previous home since a baby and never rugged nor any shelter. I've been rugging her in the cold weather to try and get some weight on her but perhaps overdid it. Only thin, breathable rugs from now on. Hole in field now filled and fenced off but still haven't managed to get all the mud off her though!
 
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