Why Do Horses Roll?

March 7, 2022

Horses roll for pleasure when in a state of complete relaxation and feel it is safe to do so.

Rolling relieves the “itchy-sweaty” feeling post-workout.

In warmer temperatures, horses may roll in mud to ward off pesky insects.

Rolling helps dry off a horse’s skin after a bath or excessive amounts of rain.

Similar to when a person yawns, rolling is contagious, so you’ll often catch more than one horse in the barn roll after another.

Occasionally, rolling can be a cause of concern, as it's a symptom of Colic. However, if a horse rolls due to Colic, they will most likely not shake themselves out when they get up.

With H.O.P.E.

Diana Bezdedeanu