Weaving - Any advice?

Munchkin

Munchkin

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 March 2004
Messages
3,692
Location
Yorkshire
www.aloegeneration.co.uk and http
I recently acquired the world's most stressed out TB. He's in a permanent state, he weaves in the stable, field and when tied up.

I know that he was getting quite a bit of feed, not much work, and was stabled where he couldn't see others. I've therefore thrown him out with my youngster 24/7 and cut his feed down to a minimum... there's enough grass to keep them full and I'm not working him so as yet he doesn't need much concentrated feed.

Never had a weaver before, so wondered if anyone has any advice on how to chill this horse out (as I'm pretty sure his problem is pent up anxiety)

Thanks
 
Looking forward to the answers
cool.gif


Dizz (DW) weaves with excitement and boredom. It's getting worse
frown.gif


I've found the only way to manage it in her case is to have her in the field as much as possible. The only place she didn't weave was in a large open stable in the middle row at the top end of a barn, everywhere else she just turns into a stress head
frown.gif


Try an anti-weave grill, but be wary as it could just channel the stress into a new issue, such as box walking.
 
Ah, Dizz hasn't started that - yet!

Maybe being abe to chill out will help reduce his anxiety levels. Do you have a routine? Some horses prefer to know what is happening and when.

Fingers crossed for you hun.
 
Our understanding of stereotypical behaviour has changed radically in recent years and it's no longer advised to use whatever is necessary to STOP the behaviour. Current thinking is that the horse has developed this behaviour in response to stress brought on from grossly unnatural management. Like the old zoo cages and bears and tigers weaving, pacing, rocking all day long in tiny cages. The weaving/rocking/etc behaviour releases endorphins in the horses brain that enables him to cope with life without going totally barking mad or laying down to die. The endorphins released can be addictive which is why horses can continue the distressing (to observe) behaviour even if the management changes and the horse is allowed to be a horse. So whatever you do, don't try to stop your ned weaving. Just continue what you're doing and over time it should reduce although if he's been doing it for long enough it may never disappear. Thank god he's found you - an owner who understands how to help him.
 
Thanks for that, it's what I was thinking. I have no intentions of trying physically to stop him from weaving, simply from trying to help him to not want to do it. There are a lot of things wrong with this horse - God only knows what's happened to him in the past.
 
If the weaving has been going on for a long time it may be difficult to stop him completely, the same as a 60-a-day Woodbine smoker
ooo.gif
Has he ever raced? Spillers have some interesting advise leaflets which state that 98% of racehorses in training have gastric ulcers which may well be the problem with your boy. This can be managed with routine, fibre and oil based diet and a suppliment to neutralise acidosis in the gut.
 
not a lot you can do to help a weaver- Pilfer weaves, always has, always will.

he is far better when he is in a routine regarding feeding times, turnout, exercise- even little things like the wheelbarrow being left out in the yard or his water bucket in a different place can set him off.

he is turned out a lot (doesn't like living out in winter) and when he comes in he has a yard not a stable.
there are rubber mats at the front to save his shoes, contact with other horses and ad-lib food.

Pilfer is also much better the more he is worked- he weaves a lot more when he is on his holiday; whether this is because of the change in routine or the extra energy i'm not sure.

i have just brought him home from the loan home he has been at for the last 3 years and when i left the yard last night he was weaving away- i think it upsets me more than it upsets him but i know he will settle in a week or two.
 
Hi Just to say it sounds to me as though you are doing everything right. If mine, I would give 24/7 turnout as much as possible, put toys like Swede and horseballs, salt licks around the stable and cut out any mix type feed so as nature intended plenty of fibre i.e., chaff for feed and plenty of quality hay to keep him busy (might soak it to stop him becoming very fat!)

Would also try to have a set routine as the weavers I have seen tend to be quite stressy and that way they know what is happening with their day and so tend to relax a bit. Also vary his work routine so he doesn't get stale and bored.

Pretty much everything you are doingg already!

Lucky horse to have found a decent owner!
 
Make sure he is warm as well, and i would defo look into stomach ulcers...other than that make sure he feels safe. quite sad to hear that its in the field as well, poor guy is obviously very stressed....im sure he will relax...
smile.gif
hate seeing my mare weave...she has totally improved tho and now lets herself into her stable! its only when she wants attention now rather than being stressed! cheeky mare!
 
Mine was a stress head, he would weave in the stable and in the field at all times. He is the herd leader and I found the trigger of his anxiety was not being able to see his best buddy.

I have since moved them into next door stables and the weaving has completely stopped. The only other time he may weave is at the field gate when he wants to come in, almost like an impatience weave.

Good luck
 
Hi,
Just to add to the superb answers above, my TB used to weave terribly when I first got him. We found that it got worse if his routine was interrupted at all. I have him in a huge stable now and he also has access to the yard at night if he wants to pop in and out (until bedding down at 11pm) and I've found that this helps enormously as he feels he's got choices.
I'm with Box_of_Frogs on the prevention thing; it just forces the weaving inside the stable :-(
It sounds like you've got the right attitude to helping him anyway, I am a firm believer in working around your horse, and listening to what they're trying to tell you.
 
i'd put him on u-gard or similar (something for gastric ulcers) as the chances are that he has them, and it might well help.
ad-lib hay should help too, i hope, maybe toys and things, friends if he's got 1 who won't bully him.
v best of luck, hope he eases off with the weaving, bless him.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top