The Art of Mud Rolling

Imagine you just got relieved of your saddle after a long and strenuous ride, and you get let out into the pasture to relax. Now, what’s the very first thing you want to do?

Many horses would say “ROLL!” For some horses, mud rolling isn’t just a way to stay warm in the cold winter months.

There are many reasons for you to decide to roll in a dirty spot. One, it does keep you warm in the winter. Two, rolling in mud or dirt can relieve the itchiness you feel after a ride. Three, when your human sees you completely covered in dirt, they usually get annoyed. And finally, many horses roll just for the fun and excitement of it.

 

Our friend Kat has clearly mastered the art of mud rolling! (By the way, Kat is supposed to be yellow!)

Sadly, this country has come to a point where horses no longer appreciate the art of mud rolling. In a poll taken at the barn where we stay, over 80% of horses agree that they can do a thorough job of getting dirty with just a few seconds of thrashing around in the dirt. This is a complete outrage!

To thoroughly cover your body with mud, you must spend at least 30 seconds working on it, if not even a few minutes. These are three key steps that will change the way you roll from now on.

1. Be sure to pick out a very good spot. Often there is a certain place in your pasture where you and the other horses usually roll. Most likely this will be the best place for you to take a dirt bath, but it is wise to check the area for better spots. The lower your rolling spot is in your pasture, the more likely there will be mud.

2. Once you have picked out your perfect spot, proceed to the lying down position. Start with one side of your body and thrash around in the dirt, making sure to drag your neck up and down through the dirt. When you have finished one side, pause and catch your breath, and then flip over to start on the other side. Cover this side just as you did the first side.

3. Now the last and hardest step to master the art of mud rolling is to carefully get up and without shaking. When you shake, too much of the dirt or mud comes off!

A very important factor in mud rolling is the presence of actual mud. Horses with access to mud will obviously do better than horses with only dirt. Don’t be discouraged if your pasture has no mud, though. We have taken plenty of rolls in dry dirt with great results.

 

Caddy getting good results in a mixture of dirt and grass.

That’s our two bits!