Oh dear lord, is my horse developing a vice??

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RunToEarth

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I don't really mind horses with vices, it wouldn't put me off but similarly I wouldn't like any of mine to develop one!
Today I turned Bertha and Wills out and kept Oshk in to ride. From the kitchen window, which faces onto the first stable block I can see my darling boy, who was weaving.
I've never seen him do it before, neither has anyone else in my family, appart from little sister who said he once did it at tea time after a long day in- fields are minging and its really wet sometimes up here, god forbid I don't always turn my horses out every day.
I havn't caught him doing it since but I really don't want him to start doing this regularly, I'd like to bite it in the bum before it develops, I can get hold of some anti weave bars from up at Grandma's stables but mum says I should wait and see whether it develops into anything- a true weaver will do it behind the bars anyway, but my lad likes to lull ofver his stable door and see out. Suggestions?
 
Oh gosh never thought of that, always dismissed stable toys as a big waste of money but a mirror would probably give him something to oggle at!
 
Mr T started to do that this year. He never weaved when I first got him and he was stabled 24 hours a day, but the move to Norfolk and then from the large livery yard we initially was at but left as he was getting very stressed and there was no grass, seemed to have started him off. He only does it when I am about to leave if he's in and I guess he's doing it while I not there. I've also held back from putting up weaving bars for now just to see if he settles down once he has his mate back next to him, which he hasn't had and gets into a routine of coming in and out. We use mirrors at work and some horses respond well others it doesn't effect so I cannot justify the expense at the moment.
 
I think he's mad at you for not taking him hunting yesterday!
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Might be an idea to put the bars up... Caffrey weaves and we just leave him to it, but i agree it would be better if he didn't - especially if you ever want to sell him.
 
someone said on here that it's a locomotory vice, i.e. it is what they do when they want to be moving (e.g. going with other horses) but can't.
tbh i'd try to ride him first, or at least stick him out into a small area, turn the others out, then bring him back in. sounds daft, but can work - that way he doesn't think he's been left behind... to a herd animal, that's a frightening thought!
 
Well I would ride him first thing if I could but sometimes he just has to be in, so I think I best stick some bars up. Sarah- I am out on WEdnesday dear, are you?
 
No.
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It's a right pain having to go to work!!
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You missed a treat yesterday - it was worth going just to see big John on Montycob!
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Sounds like he was having a bit of a sulk because his mates were out and he wasn't.
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I wouldn't put bars up. I think you need to find a way to distract him so he dosen't want to do it. Snack ball maybe? Stable lick that he only gets when he's kept in when the others go out? Does he have a straw bed? You could try hiding some carrots/apples in it.
 
I wouldn't put bars up either, as you said earlier, it doesn't solve the problem, just moves it out of sight. EBay do really good prices on stable mirrors, so it could well be worth trying.
I used to keep mine in to ride, but I don't now. I turn them out for breakfast to go down and to have a stretch while I do some jobs, then get him back in.
 
I would just keep an eye on him like your mum says. I thought mine was weaving but actually she was rubbing her chest/neck on the door!!! Just having a damn good scratch! She also rubs her tummy on the ground after she's had a roll!!! Now that is strange to watch! So it might be nothing to worry about at all.
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I wouldn't put up bars - he's doing it to cope with something, so putting up the bars doesn't solve the problem and he might get stressed not being able to perform the behaviour and may end up doing something worse! Try to pin point what's causing it and then you can avoid the situation(s) and he hopefully won't develop the behaviour further.
 
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