Horse rolling-with me on top!Help!

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karenjj

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Hi everyone,

Yesterday, I was riding my pony through some woods with a friend on horseback and one on foot and she just sniffed the ground, I thought nothing of it, next minute she just went down before I had time to work out what was going on and trapped my ankle under her before rolling! Luckily the person on foot dragged me out of the way! I've had her for 10 years and she's never done anything like this before, I really feel scared to get back on(not that I can at the moment with my crushed ankle) but I just was not expecting her to do anything like that, has anyone else experienced anything like this? I just didn't have time to register what she was doing!! She was hot and I know they do like to roll when they get hot, maybe I shouldn't ride her in the woods again. Help?!
 
I had something very similar last week.

As we were leaving our field to go out, H stopped on a dusty bit of ground and sniffed it, then started to scrape at it with a front foot. My OH is a very experienced rider and said, "I think he's going to roll", "Not with me on top he isn't" was my reply, and I gave him a gentle reminder, with heel and voice, that I was there, which avoided me having to 'bale out' quick.

I have ridden five or six times since then and he's not shown the slightest inclination to repeat his behaviour.

Don't be put off by this, just be aware it can happen.
 
I think now you know what to expect you're very unlikely to let her do it again! If she starts exhibiting the same behaviour, give her a boot and drive her forward - as Neil says, she probably needs a reminder that you're on board!
 
Welcome to the forum!

I suspect it is a combination of her being hot & sweaty along with being itchy with the remains of her winter coat. All you can do is send her forwards and not give her chance to get down & roll. Carry a schooling whip so if she does start to buckle at the knees you can wallop her with it quickly. Be prepared to kick your feet out of the stirrups so you can slide of quickly, but if she does start to go down give her a few huge kicks until you change her mind about rolling! If you can catch her just as she is starting to think about rolling it is usually possible to stop them.
 
Poutu tried to do this first time I rode her. She had never been in an indoor before and had never experienced the flooring. She stopped and started scraping, I thought she was being impatient. Next thing I could feel her going down! She was very quickly reminded that I was onboard and has never done this since. Maybe there were some nice smells on the floor?
 
A pony at the riding school I used to go to did this with my friend on board. Turned out he had something stuck under his numnah (a leaf or something, can't remember!) So maybe she was just itchy with her winter coat and being hot and sweaty? Echo above, you'll be aware of the signs if she goes to do it again, so just drive her on.

x
 
Hi everyone,

Thank you for replying, I feel much better knowing other people have experienced similar things! I think I'm going to have to try to conquer my fear and go back into the woods armed with a schooling whip once my foot is better! I guess no matter how much you think you know your horse they're still unpredictable! I think I've got a bit comfortable hacking out with her and always let her have a loose rein!

PudPud- did you feel scared after the first time he did it?!
 
karenjj-yep!! First time he did it I had no idea what was going on. we had all just stopped in the ford and the other 2 with us were having a drink when Tally started splashing about. we all laughed thinking he was playing as he was only 4 so still a baby. Next thing I knew I was dripping wet. He just dropped and rolled! Luckily I was unseated. I was really scared to take him back there again but I went with a more experienced rider who helped push him through it-literally!!
 
our horses used to do this all the time on the beach unfoetunately its all to do with keeping an eye on them if there going go down they start by sniffing the ground an then pawing at it just do your best to squeeze then on.
 
My horse has done this. It started with violent swishing of the tail so something was really aggravating her. Luckiliy my daughter was behind and realised she was about to roll. Another time she was really stressed and throwing herself about. Found that her chestnut had split and was flapping as she started to trotShes a sensitive soul..
 
funny you should mention this, I took George out in the woods last week and he kept sniffing the mud as we walked and then started pawing the ground, so head up, legged him on and he was fine. As someone said maybe itchy coats.
 
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