Pony rolling over while being ridden

[Vinney]

Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem. It has only occured once and that was Monday evening. My granddaughter was riding him as usual and part the way round the indoor school he just dropped down and rolled. Luckily she had enough sense to get off and get him up again quickly. We then walked him round for a while without his saddle and he seemed okay. We checked him over and then my other granddaughter got on him and rode him bareback for a short while, he didnt seem to mind this at all. I am a little worried that he may try again to unseat his rider. Any helpful suggestions as to how to avoid this happening again would be greatly appreciated. I am hoping he was just too warm and sweaty and didn't want to be ridden rather than it being anything to do with his health. I know we must make sure he doesn't make a habit of this that is why I am asking for advice. He is ridden 4 times a week and we have checked his saddle.

 

[astewart13]

Flies & hot sweaty weather is probably the cause! Naughty ponies

 

[piebaldsparkle]

My friends have a sweetitch pony who was thrown out of a riding school for doing this. He is yet to try it yet with her grand children or my nieces. We try to keep him as itch free as possible.

 

[EQUISCENE]

This behaviour is not just confined to ponies my 15.2hh mare tried to do it last night and as earlier poster said I put it down to her being very hot, sweaty and the flies as she has never done it before. Not sure she will try it again either as she got growled at and a sharp smack, what she does it her own time is okay but with me and my saddle on board no thanks..

 

[Vinney]

This behaviour is not just confined to ponies my 15.2hh mare tried to do it last night and as earlier poster said I put it down to her being very hot, sweaty and the flies as she has never done it before. Not sure she will try it again either as she got growled at and a sharp smack, what she does it her own time is okay but with me and my saddle on board no thanks..

Equiscene, this is just what I thought that is why he was made to walk round for a while and then ridden bare back just in case the saddle was making him more itchy and sweaty than usual. The girls are riding him again tonight so we will be more vigilant with him and make sure they have a whip in hand. We dont ask him to do much in this weather just enough to keep him going. We will try riding a bit later this evening with the hope that it will be a bit cooler.

 

[*sprinkles*]

When I was a kid I had a pony who would do this. She suffered from sweetitch and was just incredibly uncomfortable.

 

[tankgirl1]

Boyo was thinking about going down with me the other day! It was very hot, I'd just bathed him and was barebacking up to the paddock... thankfully all he did was paw a bit, then when he realised he was going to be turned out not actually worked, was more than happy to hoon up the field

He has SI too

 

[tankgirl1]

PS - how did you get on tonight Vinnie? Did he behave?

 

[Carojay]

Mine did this soon after I first bought him! We were in a sand school and he just couldn't resist - he tried it several days later but I was quicker to react, stopped him (kept reins very short, gave a couple of taps with the whip, and was generally firm with him) and he hasn't tried it since!

Sounds like it was probably to do with the weather/flies but I had the same concern as you - that if he thinks he can get rid of his rider and get out of work this way he'll keep doing it. Hope you sort it!

 

[Vinney]

Thanks for asking Tangirl1, yes he did behave very well last night. We gave him a cool off with a damp sponge first and then my granddaughter walked him round for a little while and then rode him bareback. We then gave him another cool sponge down with a little diluted lavender water.