I volunteer at a place where disabled children get thereapy from horses and I really enjoy workingg with the horses. Today I bathed on for the first time. He was all clean, nice and shiny and nearly dry. It was about 80 degrees outside and I had used the "Horse and Mane" shampoo and rinsed really good. As soon as he could he went and rolled in the dirt and mud. I couldnt believe it. It was so funny though. Why do they do this? Is it like dogs to mask the scent? Just curious. Thanks!
Answers:
Horses like a good roll in the dirt. Perhaps they do it after a bath to help dry off.
Horses typically like to go and roll around in the dirt and mud simply because it feels good. Also! A nice good coat of mud on the fur cools a horse down.
Mud also makes a great insect repellent. Flies and mosquitoes can't bite through it!
Taking Kitty's comments one step further, "rolling" is the natural way for a horse to "scratch his back" when it itches, which is why many "roll" after being untacked on a warm day. Also, the layer of dust/dirt that is collected helps protect him/ her from bites by flies and mosquitos. The way we keep them clean after bathing (in the case of our horses,for shows specifically) is to apply either a fly sheet (in summer on warm days) or a blanket (winter, early spring, late fall) to keep them clean, when they roll.
You are doing a good thing with your work. Keep it up.
Rolling in the dirt is natural for a horse, particularly when they are wet, to cake themselves to keep flies and other biting insects off. I don't believe that it smothers their scent much, as the scent glands of a horse are on the knees and hocks of a horse.
Also, when you wash a horse you do want to try to dry the horse at least to a damp condition. Do this with either your hand, a scraper, horse cooler/blanket or towel. They can get chilled, even though it doesn't seem likely in the hot air . this also depends partly on how hard the were worked before the washing!
Have fun working with the kids and horses!
Terra
Horses roll in the dirt to keep the flies and mosquitoes off of them. The dirt also acts as a barrier to sunburn and protects the skin. It makes it more difficult for the flies and mosquitoes to bite through the hair and dirt. It's natures way of protecting an animal. Birds, elephants and lots of other animals also use dirt to protect themselves. They instinctively know what's best for them.
It's to keep the fly's off. It's a protective coating to keep their coats sealed and protect them from the heat and insects.Suggest you rug the horse after bathing before removing head stall or turning them out.
The bugs are coming out now, and especially in this weather getting hotter. It keeps the bugs off them a little bit better, and also allows them to cool down as well. Sometimes though, they just like being a pig-pen!
You got to love horses!
Isn't hippotherapy just cool? I commend you for getting involved, it's so rewarding!
I had the same thing happen with a horse, but it was right before a show! I figure they like doing a sandbath type of thing.
All my horses have always done that too. My instructor used to tell me it was becase they liked being cool and rolling in the mud allowed that feeling. Beyond that though, I haven't a clue. I always found it to be rather annoying, especially before a show. ;-)
they do it cause the rist locks in the moisture and helps keep the flies off
yes its to keep the bugs off... if you use Showsheen or Vetrolin Shine (amazing smelling stuff that makes the coat slippery and dust repellant) after your bathe them they can roll in dirt but it wont stick! (or at least not as much!) I use it for my show horses to keep them clean before an event.
They do the rolling for all of the reasons everyone else gave AND.... so they hear you say . OH NO.LAUGH and especiallly show you that they are one step ahead of you.Like they were thinking all about the roll the whole time you were hosing them down while the water runs down your your arm pits on its way to your pockets and shoes!!! Its like the roll says, I can do this and dry off---can you??
Perhaps in the wild, they use this tecnique to dry off, like Zebra's do. In the wild, Zebras get wet, then rool in the dirt. Once the mud dries, they can easily shake it off, and they have a dry coat!
its perfectly normal. it basically helps them itch... i would think.. like how bears rub there backs against.. trees and like how elephants throw dirt on themselves...
The dirt helps keep the bugs off abit more thhan being absolutly clean. Bathing them is great for their skin but they like that layer of dirt on them. Just a comfort thing. (like us putting moisturizer on after a shower or bath)
Mud keeps of flies and feels really good to the horsies.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment