any way i can keep my horse from rolling in her pen?

Question

my horse is in a good sized pipe pen/little house with gravel/dirt footing on the out and big rubber stall mats/straw on the inside, and she must be rolling because shes all dirty everyday and shes beginning to get hock sores.

i heard from some horse lady there they can get hock sores from rolling. shes in this big row of pens, and her best friend is right next to her and they can stick their heads over/through the bars when they want. so shes not lonely or bored. no, the footing isnt really that deep, its just loose gravel and dirt, which is why i dont want her rolling on it.

Answer 1

Rolling is a good thing- it re-adjusts their spine, and the dirt helps protect them from flies. You also can not stop a horse from rolling. Any space is enough for them to roll if they feel itchy or had a good ride and need to re-adjust their back.
Hock sores are probably from rolling or lying on gravel and that is tearing them up. Remove the gravel (you shouldn't have gravel in a pen anyways) and your problem should be solved.
I have NEVER heard of rolling causing hock sores directly, which really doesn't make sense unless she is ripping herself up on the gravel.

Answer 2

You can't keep her from rolling, it is a natural behavior for horses. It's the way she grooms herself. I don't think the sores are from ROLLING -- sores usually happen when they are LAYING on something that is not soft enough. Do you bed deep enough? Does she lay down a lot outside in the sand?

Is she the only horse on the property? She might be rolling more than usual because she's bored and lonely. Horses are herd animals and really need to be around other horses -- preferably in a pasture or turnout pen WITH them, so they can play and do mutual grooming.

Keeping her WELL groomed and clean might help. And keep the bugs off her as much as you can.

Good luck.

Answer 3

It might be a good idea to spend a little time out doors, it seems to me taht she is a little bored, and that she wants to have a good ol' roll. horses roll nearly every day, and its a sign of good health, they roll to get dirt under their coats, and to make us mad! (they love to be washed and love MUD straight adter!) anyway, i would suggest letting her have a roam around a paddock throughout the day. As for the sores, its probably more because of when she sits up and rests, she may have sore feet from standing all athat time, horses that roll dont get sores, but rather when they sit and breath and relax they do. Give some garlic to help the healing, and give her some horse time, a day with friends and a few hours EVERYDAY to run and gallop around kicking her legs.

I hope this helps

Answer 4

I have never heard of horses getting hock sores from rolling. They can get them from collapsing. Some horses will nap and actually fall asleep on their feet. Their legs will buckle and they fall. When they do that they try to catch themselves and it will leave hock sores.

Answer 5

Horses roll to scratch their backs and to lossesn hair and to clean themselves it's normal .You can't stop her you need to get her a better fotting gravel is not a good thing that will cause cuts cause it has sharp edges . She's probally rubbing her hocks on the gravel. Getn her on better footing.

Answer 6

Why are her hocks getting sores on them? I have owned horses for many years and have encountered them rolling in their stalls, but never have I had one get sore hocks because of it. I like using shavings instead of straw. The urine must have no place to go. Maybe she's laying in her urine and this is why her hocks are getting sore.

Answer 7

Groom her every day, especially the back and underneath where they can't get at it and itch it real good, not just a quick brushing. Also a good fly spray now..Otherwise no, if you want to keep her clean, put a blanket on her and some boots (maybe light shipping boots for the summer). And even though in a good sized pen, they need to be exercised..All that should help I hope:>

Answer 8

She discovered a clean thank you to tug the reins out of your hands, is leaning too lots on you and taking great thing approximately you. while she does that, jiggle the exterior rein to tug her head up, pushing her forward (do not enable her cease). carry an honest grip on the reins-don't be difficult on her mouth, do merely not enable her thieve the reins. If a jiggle would not artwork, do a reasonable jerk, and if that would not artwork, a brilliant jerk. That being pronounced, you like her to stretch down some and artwork her muscle groups out. Have situations once you enable the reins go loose at a walk and enable her placed her nostril down (save her strolling even with the incontrovertible fact that). she would be in a position to not drop to roll in case you hold her strolling. in case you won't be in a position to maintain her going, start up wearing a whip and faucet her with it to make her go. you would be able to desire to be certain she knows of you are the boss and that in case you ask her to flow, she desires to flow.