Rolling dilema

[goodtimes]

I have owned my gelding for just over 5 months now and we are getting along fine. However, now we only have limited turnout for the winter
(3 hours) he has taken to wanting to roll in the school. Even with his tack on!

I love the yard I am on and have been there for the last 6 years with my other horse - I don't want to move. Horses are not allowed to be free schooled or turned out in the school. Have spoken to his previous owner who said that they had no winter turnout so they used to put him in the school for a roll and run about. I presume he thinks he can do the same here - didn't have this problem over summer when he was turned out all day.

Things I have done so far...

1. Make a lot of noise and wave my arms when he gets down to roll.
2. Mount him outside the school - he threatens to roll with me on his back - but not done so far.


Have got the saddler booked and back lady just incase he feels he needs a roll due to discomfort.

Any other ideas or similar experiences?

 

[rockysmum]

Mine have never tried to roll in the school but I do get sick of the amount of mud they find when turned out.

If I dont want my oldie (a real mud monster) to roll, I find a good grooming with something hard like a rubber massage pad, followed by a stiff brush does stop some of it.

I wouldn't tolerate even threatening to roll when ridden though, it might not be PC but a sharp smack with a crop might discourage that.

 

[LouS]

Just don't let him do it, if he tries to get down send him forwards sharpish!

 

[unbalanced]

Can you take him for a roll in hand without any of his rugs on? That might make him feel better.

 

[Holzdweaver]

it may sound silly, but have you changed your washing powder? My boy started trying to roll in the school but just while being ridden, i tried taking him in on just a rope in case my grooming wasnt good enough for him and wasnt interested, wasnt until a few days later when i changed his saddlecloth and he was totally fine after that it clicked, i realised it must have been the washing powder as id washed his fleece too and he was itching on the walls so i took it off in case he made it slip and hurt himself, and he stopped rubbing in the stable too.

 

[SonnysHumanSlave]

Ponies at the riding school try and do this sometimes, loads of noise usually stops it, not much to do other then that.

 

[jeeve]

yes my boy is like that - rolling is a stress release for him, they should provide some where he can roll, if not I would move him, eventually my boy got caste in his shelter trying to roll on soft gorund, was injured for 18 months