Suburban Skyview: Palatine Horses at Play

Horses at the Palatine Park District Stables roll in the dirt as a storm heads into the area Thursday, May 16.

Seen from about 100 feet in the air, the horse at the top of the photo almost looks as if he is auditioning for the role of a carousel horse.

Horses roll in dirt for many reasons, including grooming, shedding and regulating their body temperature.

The publicly owned Palatine Stables is slated to close this fall after some seven decades of equestrian operations, the Palatine Park District has announced. However, a push by local residents has officials re-examining the structure.

Built in the 1950s, the operation at 1510 W. Northwest Hwy. was privately owned until the park district acquired the nearly 9-acre site in 1988.