Stupid question re rolling on headcollar :S

[kellybee]

I have a very sweet 15.2, he's an angel with great manners, tries really hard and other than being left alone (insecure boy) he's an angel. He was passed around from pillar to post before I had him and hasn't had it easy but he's still a little superstar. He loves his chow and he loves to roll in the mud.

Earlier in the week after 7 days/nights in I walked him across the bramble paddock which is pretty dry all things considered, to the trash paddock. I stopped half way to let him graze for a few minutes, took a phone call and as I answered his legs buckled and he was rolling around on the floor making happy noises. I was on the phone and realised the trash paddock is too wet to roll in even for his standards, and after a week indoors I couldn't blame him.

He's been out during the day all week, so when I brought him in tonight he tried rolling again but I kept him walking. BF passed comment that I was mean to not let him roll, but I had to disagree saying it's not okay for him to just drop when he feels like it, that only encourages bad habits.

His response was that he doesn't just drop when he feels like it - he sometimes stops to let him if he's been in a few days, other times no. If Dan keeps him walking he never protests, he just plods on out to the trash paddock with his sad face on - there's nowhere dry enough in the turnout paddock for him to do it, but I have to say I was mortified! BF isn't particularly horsey, he just turns them out in the morning sometimes. Ollie's one of those horses who will roll, graze, roll again, making such happy noises! He LOVES it. Am I being mean by not allowing this?

 

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

You say "bad habits" but you have identified why he is doing it and also have said how well behaved he is.

What do you think is going to happen?
Do you think he will start rolling whenever he feels like it and you won't be able to stop him?

How does that fit in with how well behaved you have said he is?

Just chill, the horse wants to roll and if it's not a big deal to let him, then let him.

Also considertion should be given to them all moulting at the moment. I would think that a horse's brain is hard wired to roll a lot at this time.

 

[TandD]

its a natural instinct for a horse - to get rid of the current 'smell' they have so a predator cant find them.......not to sure how covering the ground that you are standing on in your smell helps cover your tracks...but ok :/

also this time of the year they are very itchy, so hes probably trying to get rid of his coat? is his stable big enough to roll in at night?

one of mines loves rolling and has been known to roll 5 seperate times........ honestly you wouldnt believe theres a horse under all that mud!
you do need to make sure that your horse knowns when he can and cant roll...what if you took him out and he tried to roll at a show?

 

[Tickles]

^ this. ETA: I mean what Aarrghimpossiblepony said.

Your bf has been doing this for a while and no bad habits have developed. In fact you only found out because you were answering your phone and dawdling around instead of turning out in a 'workmanlike' (BHS term!) fashion.

I'd relax.

If you can take a call there, I'd suggest it is safe enough for horse to roll.

 

[kellybee]

Thanks, that's kind of what I wanted to hear really. To be honest I'm not too concerned about him doing it with me - I wasn't surprised he was rolling after so long indoors and he's a gentleman as I've said, but I guess the main worry was my non-horsey BF letting my horses do stuff I normally wouldn't allow. He did say he doesn't allow it all the time which is a good thing and Ollie does get a good brush down every night although he isn't moulting yet, so I don't feel like such a bad mother for not allowing him his one great pleasure every day. I have no objection when they're with me, but I don't want my horses thinking Dan is a pushover.

Oh, and he likely does roll indoors his stable is 12 x 14 and he's always got straw in his mane of a morning

 

[mandwhy]

Aww, he probably loves seizing the opportunity for a nice patch of ground, my two are delighted at such ideal ground conditions! I think the fact you were stopped for him to graze signals it is ok for him to do what he wants, if you are walking him on in the 'workmanlike' fashion (love that) that says no time for such shenanigans! Tell your BF if he is going to let him do it, to stop him then let him, rather than let him randomly drop down whilst being led