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  Discussion on Stopping to Roll
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Posted on Saturday, Oct 13, 2001 - 10:11 pm:

This is a first, and I am sure that it was purely an act of defiance, but I still cannot believe she did this....
I was lunging my horse, she had done about ten minutes of trotting going one direction, and had changed reins and started into going the other direction for a few minutes...when (I still cannot believe this)..she stopped, layed down, rolled around to itch her back ( or thumb her nose up at me) and got back up. What's up with that!!!!????? What a turkey.
I had her in a halter with a lunge line with a chain over her nose. She has never been fond of lunging..a remnant, I feel, from her previous owners. Should I invest in a surcingle? If so, would you lunge in a bit or just a longing cavesson? Should I attach side reins directly to the bit and surcingle.

She was fine under saddle when I rode her an hour or so after this...

Posted on Saturday, Oct 13, 2001 - 11:44 pm:

But maybe she just had an itch.... c'mon mom I just couldn't wait till we were done.

If she was defying you, you have to laugh at the ingenuity of it, cause its really got your goat. Huh?

My girl wouldn't be so clever. just raucous and start bucking and farting and rearing.

I was always taught to lunge in a bridle / bit. and hook the lunge rein through the d-ring up over the poll and through the other d-ring. I never had problems with her when doing it this way. Only when I was being lazy and would free lunge her or in halter. I think the respect level was different and she new I was being serious in full regalia. (saddle, too).

Oh when I lunged I used side reins sometimes and either used the reins loosely attached to the saddle or I would create some with rope-- hook it to the girth thru the legs or over depending on situation and through the bit and tie it to the saddle. I don't know if this part helps your dilemma, but I don't think you need a cavesson or surcingle if you lunge with saddle and bridle. I would think thats just me trying to save money though.

jojo

Posted on Monday, Oct 15, 2001 - 10:25 pm:

I agree with Jojo. When you have an itch, you just have to stop and scratch. If she was working up a sweat because of her winter coat, she may have been unusually itchy. Rejoice in the fact that she felt comfortable enough with you to get into a vulnerable position with you right there. I had one mare years ago that would never let anyone catch her down. My guess is that your horse's rolling won't be a regular thing.

Posted on Monday, Oct 15, 2001 - 11:30 pm:

Thanks. It really was quite humorous, if not maddening.
She does the bucking and farting, but fortunately (knock wood) has outgrown the rearing. That was last years thing.
I appreciate your input.

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 16, 2001 - 9:29 pm:

Karen,
Can you lunge her somewhere that you don't need the chain(maybe a round pen)? I know its no fun having the lunge line whistling through your hands but I hate the idea of having to use a chain full time. I do allow a little bit of free expression when we start lunging(but pulling on me is not acceptable). Then I go to the bitted up stage, if appropriate. Some horses are bored lunging(I had a stallion eat my lunch one day but he was fine to ride). So maybe, less lunging, more riding if she's good there.
As far as rolling, that is funny to think about. What did you do when it happened?

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 16, 2001 - 11:32 pm:

I would love to have a round pen, or even a ring for that matter. Currently I am relegated to a large flat area in the pasture. I went to using the chain becuase she looses her temper after about ten minutes of lunging and starts acting like a wild thing, snorting and flying around the circle at a dead gallop with the tail straight in the air, hoping to scare me into stopping. It is frightening, but I refuse to let her get by with this behavior and make her keep going until she gives in. Hence the chain. I have been reluctant to bit her up to lunge for fear of what she will do. She is great under saddle, and I suspect that her previous owners have soured her to lunging.
I adore my horse, but she does have a bit of an attitude at the moment, primarily (I think) because she has basically been on holiday for the past several months and resents having to work.
So, that was where the question originated.

I appreciate everyones input. She is getting her winter coat so it could very well have been that, and I also noticed that the biting flies were particularly bad that day, so it might have been that also.

I don't normally lunge her, but have not been able to ride for the past two months because of a back injury so was trying to excercise her this way.

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 17, 2001 - 10:18 am:

What about trying smaller circles only where you have more control of the sessions. I remember being dragged around the arena (thinking she would behave) since she saw so much room to play.

Since that time I lunged her only in the roundpen. But since that isn't an option, I wonder if smaller more controlled circles would help. And walk, trot only. NO canter. Not until the horse listens to voice commands and your body signals.

jojo
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