This is a time of year when Zelda gets hot and itchy. Always one to enjoy a roll after a ride, she sometimes barely waits until I get her saddle off.
This is what happened on Saturday. After a vigorous and exciting hunt on a warm November day, I dismounted in the host’s sand arena. Another horse, already untacked, dropped to the sand and rolled enthusiastically.
Great idea! Thought Zelda, who began to paw at the inviting sand, sniffing for the right place. Of course, she was still fully tacked!
Quickly I unfastened her five-point breast plate and pulled the saddle off before she could act on the impulse.
Seconds after the saddle left her back she was indulging in the best roll. Given the state of her saturated coat she managed to coat herself in sand. But she looked so pleased with herself!
I’d thought about updating her trace clip before the hunt, but since I’m unlikely to hunt again this season, I opted to leave her coat. It gives me a lot more flexibility on blanketing options if she can keep herself warm.
Does your horse roll? I’ve never had Zelda start to go down while I was still on her, but I’m sure she’s thought about it. She gave a couple of good shakes during the checks yesterday as she was quite steamy.