weaving?

[BSJAforLIFE]

I know what weaving is, there's a horse at my yard that weaves. but why is it a problem?

Does it do anything to them or harm them in anyway?? sorry for the stupid post guys

thanks

 

[megwan1]

bad habit... can often be a sign of stress and think it can be bad on there legs etc not sure on that tho

 

[Silverspring]

It's not good on the shoulders, knees, fetlocks and feet. Can also casue back problems higher up the shoudler toward the wither. It impossible to stop a horse weaving if it really wants to but you can minimise it by keep them as stress free as possible.

Routine works well, keeping them out as much as possible etc my girl weaves, her legs have held up to it (she weaved her whole life and is now 23!) but she was always managed so she mainly only weaves in the morning and she's out asap. Her feet are squint though, heals are higher on the outside and the hoof wall flare, all becasue of her putting weight up the inside of her legs for so many years

 

[melaniemarks]

My yearling weaves, It is when a horse sways its head from side to side over the stable door. Last month when I saw the vet, I asked her if there were any lasting affects. Basically she said as vices go its the most harmless and there is no proven evidence that other horses pick it up. She advised to keep her out as much as poss and not worry about it. My mate has a 23 year old TB that weaves and he still comptetes and raced in his younger days. It hasn't done him any harm. Hope this helps

 

[BSJAforLIFE]

oh right, thankyou princesssparkle, it was really confusing me

x

 

[Cyberchick]

I think a lot of the problem would be to do with the stress on the legs as they are moving from one leg to the other but this I think would only effect the serious weavers. It is a bad habit that is mainly caused by boredom and stress.
I do think it is a myth though that other horses can 'learn' and pick u these habits from other horses though.

 

[teddyt]

It is not a bad habit or a vice. It is because the horses desire to move is prevented. Horses are physically and mentally designed to walk and eat, walk and eat for around 18 hours a day. Domestication often prevents this, instead they are confined for 18 hours a day (or more), so weaving starts.

 

[Cyberchick]

Why would a horse weave at the field gate if it has the freedom to move around then?

 

[Silverspring]

[ QUOTE ]
Why would a horse weave at the field gate if it has the freedom to move around then?

[/ QUOTE ]

Stress! They do generally learn to weave in a stable environment then it can transfer to the field. It is usually only extreme cases that weave at gates in fields, I've know a fair few weavers in my time and only one was know to do that (and she dug huge hole throwing herself from side to side at the gate) really you need a strict routine, a horse will weave at a gate when it wants in or if company is removed. Can be a nightmare when they start that

 

[teddyt]

Because it is frustrated. Either there is insufficient grazing or the field is too small normally. Either that or it is stressed from another reason, its waiting for its dinner or has been left on its own for example. Ferral/wild horses dont weave or crib bite. It is a man made behaviour that the horse will often carry out for the rest of its life when under stress. It starts because of the lack of movement but can appear even when the horse can move.

 

[melaniemarks]

My little girl only weaves if she is alone. If my other mare is in the stable next door she doesn't do it UNLESS other horses come past her stable on their way to the field, then she will start. I think with her she doesn't like being on her own. Its like seperation anxiety. To solve the problem, she lives out. She will come in during the winter on some nights but only when it is really cold/wet.

 

[Cyberchick]

So wouldn't that be like me bitting my nails or smoking? I started when I was stressed out over something but now I do it all the time so I would now call it a bad habit or a vice. Them or us are not born with these vices but something in life happens that causes them or us to start them which then turns into a habit?

 

[Silverspring]

[ QUOTE ]
So wouldn't that be like me bitting my nails or smoking?

[/ QUOTE ]

Erm maybe like biting your nails but most horse's don't just do it whenever, there usually is a trigger like getting fed, horse's moving around, people moving around etc though some will just do it out of utter boredom

Cribbing is more like smoking as the brain actually release endorphins into the blood stream when they do it so they get a bit of a high!

 

[arwenplusone]

My mare is a terrible weaver, but Teddyt has described it perfectly, it is frustration, pure & simple. She will weave when she wants to go out & can't OR when she wants to come in, or when she is hungry.

Unfortunately, she weaves more when I am there as she anticipates that something is going to happen.

To date she has suffered no ill effects from it.
A trainer of a certain olympic team once said to me that he isn't bothered in the least about weaving & that what a horse does in his own time is his own business.
i would buy another one, without qualms tbh, the only trouble is the stigma associated with it.

 

[Cyberchick]

Excellent reply, thankyou.

My horse doesn't weave but it was one of those random questions I have never asked.

 

[arwenplusone]

[ QUOTE ]
So wouldn't that be like me bitting my nails or smoking? I started when I was stressed out over something but now I do it all the time so I would now call it a bad habit or a vice. Them or us are not born with these vices but something in life happens that causes them or us to start them which then turns into a habit?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think it is a habit rather than a vice. A vice to me is something like rearing or biting, which makes the horse difficult or dangerous to deal with.

Ever been to a zoo where the tiger/lion is pacing the perimeter of their cage? IMO this is the same as weaving.

 

[teddyt]

Good example, mayflower. Zoo animals pace up and down because they are confined. I dislike it being called a habit though, that implies it can be stopped if the horse wants to. The horse will weave because it is a reaction to stress, not because it is a habit. It may have started due to confinement but appears at any time when stress is caused.

 

[legaldancer]

I agree teddyt. I had a weaver & would do again. I took him hunting once & he weaved on the spot whilst mounted. He was obviously stressed at the time.
Best thing is to turn them out 24/7. My chap changed completely, from a manic weaver to a happy, chilled horse. He only weaved occassionally at the gate if he was waiting for a feed.

 

[lauraandjack]

The scientific term for these type of behaviours is stereotypy.
Cage pacing, box walking, weaving, cribbing. They are varied responses to long term frustration at being unable to perform natural behaviours.

 

[Fizzimyst]

QR

My mare weaves when she is in when I go to the yard. If she is in and I am not there she doesnt do it, I show up, she does it, I leave the yard, she stops..........