Weaving

golddustsara

golddustsara

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New horse has started weaving in the last couple of days. He has been out of work for a week due to physio and another appointment tomorrow so hopefully will be able to get back in the saddle soon! I have been able to long rein but he is very full of beans and gets excited when all the tack comes out
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Is it possible the change of environment (had him 3 weeks) plus the being out of work suddenly has caused him to become more stressed thus weave? Is there anything I can do to alleviate the stress? He is turned out from 8am till 4.45pm every day. I am looking at yards where he can be turned out all the time so fingers crossed I like one and we can move! Horses eh? I've lost half a stone in 3 weeks
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I would think the moving and then the lack of work has caused it.... hope you find a new yard as i think 24/7 turnout is the best thing for him....

And as to the half a stone... thats probably the only plus!
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You could try a stable mirror. Once he's got this habit it will tend to return, so I'd try to help him out a bit asap. Not with a weaving grill...
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Yes he has lead a stressful life as a competition horse so I'm sure its understandable. He has already hurt his back in the 3 weeks and had bouts of stress headshaking so I'm wondering what else he can throw at me. When you're riding him, he is cool as a cucumber though so roll on being back in the saddle as he thrives off it.

I think your right re yards. If I can't find 24/7 during the winter I am going to look for a quieter one with more hacking so he can keep his mind occupied and get him doing some stressage. Got to get the back sorted first!

Hmm I'm 5ft 8 and 9 1/2 stone so I'd better not loose too many half stones but feeling a good weight now after no dieting - excellent. Buy a horse, get thinner!
 
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You could try a stable mirror. Once he's got this habit it will tend to return, so I'd try to help him out a bit asap. Not with a weaving grill...
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[/ QUOTE ]

I had thought of this but as I'm unsure how long I'm staying at current yard it seemed a bit of a mission to fix it up then take it down again. But if it works then its worth it. He weaves in his stable not over the door so a weave grill would be no use. Little blighter has a 16ft x 16ft stable and chooses to stand in the corner weaving. No history of weaving in previous home but he lived out most of the time bar extreme weather. He seems much better and practically stops when the horse opposite him is in so perhaps I will wait till he is in before I bring Orkan in.
 
strange thought... could it be the stable is too big? Sounds weird but horse I know was really upset in a large stable and just wouldnt settle but as soon as he went into a smaller one (obv not too small) he just chilled straight away.

Sounds odd bless him! i'm sure he's ok and hes just trying to tell you he wants to get going again
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if he is weaving in the corner i feel thats its an old habit and he has been grilled in to stop him over the door! waas it not mentioned when you bought him? 24/7 turnout might stop him but he might also do it in the field. (sorry) as long as you are extremely happy with him, then enjoy. if he isnt ticking all the boxes i would speak to old ownwers asap! its stereotypic behaviour, and yes is stress induced but he probably will never forget this vice. Good luck
 
I had Jake a week ago and he was weaving a fair bit. however I felt the stable he was in was a little small for him and he had to put his head over the door to see anything so I moved him to another part of the yard where there are bars all the way around. Has been there 2 days now and no one has seen him weave at all!! Which is obviously great
 
It's a very individual thing for the horses. Some love being able to see all round, and then the grills, windows etc are great. Others feel threatened by others in proximity, so then grills are the worst thing you could do for them. I agree, if he's weaving in the corner then this sounds like an old habit returning because he feels a bit stressed at the moment. And it has displaced because of him being either grilled in or even shut in in the past (it happens!).
If he doesn't stop then personally I would try the faff of the mirror, because the more you can help him to stop the better. He's getting an endorphin hit from doing this, so it would be good to break the pattern. Good luck with it.
 
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