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By
Michael Lowder, DVM, MS
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Horses get down on the
ground and roll for a variety of reasons, but most commonly to
"scratch" their backs. When lying down or rolling, they generally
choose the softest spot in their pasture or paddock, even if they
have to paw and dig up an area to make it softer and more
comfortable. Hard or rocky ground can be tough on backbone and
withers, so the horse prefers a soft place, fluffed up even more
with his pawing.
Many horses roll several times a day, just to scratch an itch
somewhere on the body that cannot be reached easily by other
means, or to dislodge bothersome flies. Many will roll at the
beginning or end of a nap, giving themselves a comfortable back
scratching as they get down or up. Almost every horse after being
ridden (especially if he sweats under the saddle) will get down
and roll to make himself more comfortable after you've taken the
saddle off and turned him loose. Rolling relieves itching from the
sweat, and also dissipates the moisture that accumulated under the
saddle. Rolling in the springtime helps a horse get rid of
shedding hair.
Horses will also roll
when experiencing abdominal pain, as an attempt to ease the
pain or get away from it. But you can tell whether a horse is
rolling because of pain or just to satisfy his need to get rid
of an itch. The horse taking a normal, healthy roll will
generally go about it in a matter-of-fact, no-nonsense way. He
may paw a little, but only to make sure the rolling spot is
soft. Then he'll get down and have a good roll, putting in a
few extra motions and wiggles to make sure he gets all the
itchy spots scratched.
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If he's one of those
individuals who doesn't roll on over, he'll get up after he's
thoroughly itched one side of himself, and lie back down again to
give the other side an equal turn. And when he's all through,
he'll get up and give himself a hearty shake to sling the dust out
of his coat, and maybe give a grunt or a sigh and then go on about
his business.
But a horse with
abdominal pain will have a different look, and his rolling is
different. He may seem preoccupied, tuned in to his internal
discomfort; or he'll be dull, tense or uneasy. His expression is
somewhat distressed. He may start sweating. When he paws before
rolling, he may take a lot of time at it, seeming to have trouble
deciding whether he is going to roll or not. Or he may just
suddenly go down and start rolling when a pain hits him. This kind
of rolling is not for back scratching. You won't see those extra
wiggles of itching movement. Instead, he may roll violently and
thrash about in an effort to get away from pain. And when he gets
up, he generally won't shake himself. A good shake is usually a
sign of a normal horse who feels good. The sick horse doesn't
bother to shake the dust out of his coat. He may get up from his
roll only to go down again in a moment or two to roll violently.
Or he may lie flat out for a while, then roll some more.
It is traditional to walk a colicky horse to keep him on his feet
and keep him from rolling. Walking a colicky horse to keep him
from rolling is not a bad idea; sometimes the gentle exercise of
walking will help him pass manure and alleviate some of his pain
or discomfort. Also, the horse with abdominal pain can roll so
violently that he may injure himself.
The simple act of rolling, even violently, generally will not
damage intestines or cause a twisted gut in a normal horse. Horses
often roll very vigorously when doing their normal itching and
scratching. But in a horse with colic, the situation can change.
If the gut problem is caused by of blockage and part of the gut is
overfull (and part of it relatively empty due to the blockage), or
if there is a large pocket of gas or distended loop of intestine,
it is much easier for part of the gut to flip over on itself or
create a dangerous twist.
The horse rolling to escape abdominal pain is preoccupied by his
pain and not as apt to be careful where or how he rolls. He is
more apt to injure himself, or become cast in his stall or against
the fence, than a horse doing a healthy self-grooming
back-scratching roll. The colicky horse may crash down on hard
ground or in the rocks. When the pain hits him, he'll go down, and
in his violent thrashing he may injure himself externally or
internally, or both. Some horses have gone down so violently on a
barn floor that they ruptured the liver.
Close observation of horses' daily activities can give a good clue
as to their health and well-being. Knowing each individual's
habits and idiosyncrasies can often let you know if something is
amiss. The way your horse rolls is a perfect example. If you
suspect a problem, or sense that your horse is rolling due to
pain, it's time for a closer look and a veterinarian's diagnosis.
And if the rolling becomes violent or abnormal, it's wise to keep
the horse on his feet and walking until the vet gets there, to
make sure the horse doesn't injure himself in his frantic efforts
to relieve the pain.
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