Horses Walking in Circles

Stanski

Stanski

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Hiya
Just wondering if anyone has ever seen or heard about horse's walking around their field in large circles following each other nose to tail. Usually in evening for up to 10/15 mins. The horses at my yard do it in every field they go in and its usually the same 4 with usually the same two at the front. Not sure if the others have a history of being in a horse walker but mine hasn't and she joins in too. Any ideas of why they do it?
 
Funny that this should come up. Our old pony has just started to do this and I cannot fathom why and neither can the vet! Will await replies with interest.
 
Slightly different situation but my friends riding school ponies used to do this on their day off - round the fields & through the gaps nose to tail. Just like in a ride.
 
Is this a form of stereotypical behaviour? I'm thinking of lions etc pacing up and down their cages at the zoo, i.e. just habit they get into? Not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I wish my ponies would do it! Might stop them getting fat!:D
 
Years ago I remember on a yard I was on there was a mare that box walked really badly. When turned out in the field she would do the same as if she was still within the confines of the stable.
 
My neighbours horse does this in the summer months during the evening and has left big circle tracks in his field. He does not appear stressed as it is an amble but very set circular route - I have seen him do it before at this time of year and I have always guessed it is because the midges are bad so he keeps moving to keep them off a bit.
 
Im glad they are not the only ones that do it, its always at a slow pace so they never seem stressed and always in the same direction which is clockwise. Love hearing everyone's ideas, keep them coming.
 
Well not in circles no

But at a livery yard in the 80's there were 3 that did this always the same order , they walked round the field like a scene out of Benny Hill.

They were getting comfort from flies with the one in front. They would zig zag all round the field
 
Dry Rot said:
Is this a form of stereotypical behaviour? I'm thinking of lions etc pacing up and down their cages at the zoo, i.e. just habit they get into? Not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I wish my ponies would do it! Might stop them getting fat!:D
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LOL DR. I wish he would walk off some beef but sadly not yet!!!!
 
What a funny coincidence! I used to care for a very elderly pony (44 when she died) and she used to walk the boundary of the field in the evenings too. She was as fit as a fiddle and I had no reason to suspect any sinister cause, but it was almost as if she was compelled to do it. She always looked perfectly relaxed while she did it, certainly not stressed at all, but given that she loved her grub I was always wondering why she walked rather than munched.
 
Not sure why they are walking in circles, but the following nose to tail is so that the horse infront's tail swishes the flies away from the horse behind's head. Maybe the horse in front gets annoyed with the other horse's head being up its bum so walks away and the other one follows...??
 
My horse does this for about an hour leading up to dusk when the midges are out. They keep moving so they don't get bitten! Seems like a race track around my field freaked me out at first but happy now I know why! They're clearly not that stupid after all!:)
 
Abigail99 said:
My horse does this for about an hour leading up to dusk when the midges are out. They keep moving so they don't get bitten! Seems like a race track around my field freaked me out at first but happy now I know why! They're clearly not that stupid after all!:)
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My mare does this too, also see her doing this in the morning if the midges are bad.
 
Yeah saw them doing it this morning 5 of them, great to have an answer and know they are not the only ones. Just wonder what passers by make of it. Thanks everyone for your imput. xxx
 
Take care with any horse, any age, with an unknown history or a history of neglect, that displays odd walking behaviours as it can be a sign of serious liver damage if other symptoms are present but perhaps not recognised.
 
If one horse did it, then it would, or could, be the field equivalent of box walking. Plenty walk fences, at times of stress.

Horses following each other in a field, would, I would guess, be as others have suggested, doing their best to avoid flies.

Otherwise, I haven't a clue! :D

Alec.
 
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