Weaving

gumpatrump

gumpatrump

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Would you buy a horse that is prone to weaving? He only seems to weave at feeding times and if he is not first to be turned out. It was probably once stress related but just seems to be habit now. Also, is there anything that can be done to help a horse stop weaving?
 
You really need to provide the right sort of enviroment for a weaver, sometimes they can get worse, sometimes they can improve, it really depends on the how stressed they get and how you go about managing the horse. I would not recomend buying a weaver if it is possible for you to find the type of horse you want that doesnt.

My last horse was a weaver and a box walker, he was fine if you were with him (grooming/tacking up) but got very unsettled, even with his stable mates, they can loose condition and get very stressed, so he was kept out 24/7 as much as possible, and obviously never weaved for years. Large busy yards where alot of horses are stabled and coming and going etc would not be a good place to keep a weaver neither as it can make them worse.
Also you have to consider if any past weaving has caused any long term damage/strain on the front legs.

If you can provide a stress free...pretty much stable free living for them then yes, there is no problem, it wouldnt put me off again you just need to understand how to deal with it to prevent it if you can.
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I have a weaver. As Kenzo says managed correctly it can be ok. My mare is quite extreme, but by keeping her routine and allowing her as much turnout as is possible I am able to manage it.

She does it for my benefit though and not when I am not there apparently!
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Other things to consider are stress on joints and wear on shoes - also if you have a concrete floor a manic weaver may slip.

If I really liked a horse I would still go for it. After all, what a horse does in his own time - is his own business!
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I had a weaver, she would do it for attention when wanting food or to be turned in or out. She would stand at the gate when she had decided it was time to come in and weave until she came in. Her other trick was to canter up and down the fence to really annoy me. She was watched from a distance though and would only do it for my benefit.
She never had any front leg lameness in her life, was built like a tank in front with a large neck. I assume from the weaving?
I wouldn't buy another, as she was a pain to keep happy, I was worried others may copy and it annoys other people. Sorry.
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I tried the turnout thing with my weaver - she fence walked instead
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she did have intermittent lameness in her off fore that may have been due to concussion from her weaving but this has been solved by the use of rubber matting. Her constant companion has never copied this weaving from her and it does seem to be a habit now rather than an indication of stress. I would not be put off a horse just for weaving, it can be managed and if it was perfect in every other way I would go for it.
 
I have a weaver and I'd buy another one as long as it was only mild. My horse only weaves if he can see you making his feed and apart from that you wouldn't know he does it. He looks from side to side very slowly as opposed to rocking violently back and forth so I'm not worried about damage to his legs. He lives out pretty much 24/7 and if he's ever in he has ad lib hay but isn't stressy in the stable and hold his weight rather too well!

All I do is shut the top door while I make feeds and then he either dozes with his head out the window at the back or grooms his next door neighbour over the half height partition.
 
Mien weaves but only when he thinks he's missing out on something, if you're late to feed in the morning that sort of thing. He lives out 24/7 in summer and in at night in winter so I don't reallynotice his weaving an awful lot - he's just an attention seeker really! I've had him since he was 4 and he's 17 now and I can't say I've seen any detrimental effects. He showjumps, does x-country and has recently decided he likes dressage. None of our other horses have copied him, I think it's just part of his personality as, as far as I know he has never been mis-treated or stabled for any prolonged time.

I think he has been spoilt from a young age and he's also very intelligent so needs something to keep his brain occupied which is why keeping them out as much as possible is generally the best remedy for any horse prone to picking up vices.
 
I bought mine then found out she weaves! its not nice at all and its quite distressing! some days shes chilled other days shes manic (she has actually dug two giant holes in her rubber matting!) I try really hard to keep her happy but once shes in that manic state...hay/turnout/company doesnt help she needs snapping out of it...so il try taking her for a walk! its worse now where she hasnt been in work so she is mentally bored.....dont know whether i would buy a weaver again....moving yards is difficult as it upsets them!

if you love the horse then buy it, go with what your gut says!
 
Oscar weaved quite alot in his old yard but only does it now when he can see me. Doesn't do it at all when I'm hidden around the corner......
 
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