Training Tip: Horse Rolls When Being Ridden

Question: My mare has started lying down and rolling while I’m riding her. She does it so quickly that I don’t even realize it’s happening until she’s on the ground. What do I do? – Z. Gough

Answer: A horse that lies down and rolls while you’re riding him is very dangerous. If you’re not quick enough to get out of the saddle, he can crush you and seriously hurt you. It’s common during clinics or at horse shows or on long trail rides for horses to lie down because they get hot and sweaty and want to roll in the sand to itch themselves and cool down. No matter the reason why your horse drops to the ground and rolls, immediately make her feel wrong for doing it.

The instant she buckles her legs and you realize she’s going to lie down, immediately start spanking her with the end of your mecate or dressage whip. Make her feel uncomfortable NOW! Don’t stop spanking her until she’s standing on all four feet. Then put her on a loose rein and dare her to make the mistake again. Don’t babysit her and try to keep her from committing the mistake. If she does go all the way down on you, get out of the saddle as fast as you can, and then immediately start spanking her. Continue to spank her until she gets to her feet and then leave her alone. Get back in the saddle and dare her to roll again.

The biggest mistake people make with horses that roll is to let the horse think it’s OK. For example, they’ll be riding the horse and he’ll be feeling hot and sweaty and he will drop to the ground and roll. Rather than making him feel wrong for rolling, people step back and let him roll all he wants. They wait for him to finish and get back to his feet. In the horse’s mind, he thinks it’s OK to drop to the ground anytime he feels like it. Teach your horse that rolling is unacceptable by making the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult.

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