Weaving

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mar2505

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My boy has started weaving when waiting to be turned out in the morning. He stamps his feet when he weaves and completly rocks from side to side with his whole body. The yard have asked me to get a weave bar and the YO feels that he wont start box walking if he cannot weave as his issue is looking out to see if its his turn to be turned out. What does anyone else think? It is really distressing me to watch him.
 
Yeah horses tend to weave when stressed, a horse I used to have started doing it when the other horses where going out before him.

Can they not give him his breakfast when the other horses go out? Or just put him out first? if he has just started doing it then you need to nip it in the bud now.

I would think if he is getting stressed out because he can not see his mates, buy putting a weave bar up I really do think he will start to box walk.
 
Hi, he is one of the first turned out. He has breakfast and then I tried giving him hay or his ball to playwith but he is so keen on getting out that he does not want to not look over the door. He can see 7 horses which go out after him so never ever last but its the whole body moving that is worrying me, he is gonna put holes in the ground at this rate.
 
Finni started doinig the same thing for the same reason. I tried hay and his breakfast in a snack ball, helped a little, but not much.

Eventually, I moved him to a really quiet corner of the yard and that sorted him right out.
 
Can he see the field from his stable? Is so it might be better (if possible) to move him to a different part of the yard where he can't see it so he doesn't get stressed by watching everyone go out and not him. You could also try varying his routine, ride him in the morning sometimes instead of turning him out straight away, he'll probably be distracted at first but will get better over time. He obviously thinks going out is the best thing! So try making other stuff fun for him, maybe take him crosds countrying or hunting (most horses love this), or just fun hacks with other horses so he learns there is more to life than being turned out. Alternatively wait until all the other horses are out before you go and see him (leave him in), he'll hate it for a few days but will sonn get used to the fact that he is not going out yet and calm down. Once evryone else is out he'll be more likely to pay attention to you.
 
Hi mar2505

My previous horse weaved, he had very good and bad days and he too would sway on his front legs and pick his feet up. It never caused him to suffer any lameness or strains, but who knows in years to come, what it may cause.

I tried anti weave bars but took them down as it really upset him and he would charge at them and poke his head in and out at high speed. Some horses just stand behind them and weave.

Think it is kinder to let them get on with it and turn out as much as poss and try keep them occupied. Its very rare that they stop. I know what you mean, as I always got upset watching him, thinking there must be something I was not doing right for him !. It was actually just him. Strange really as it never bothered me watching anyone elses horse weave, crib or box walk. Think when it is your horse you become too concerned about what other people think and are saying.
 
I agree there are a few that weave at the yard and it does not bother me, but I wonder if I am doing right by him. Everyone says that he literally throws himself at the door trying to bring it down to go out and that really distresses me. I was tempted to move and put him on grass livery but to be honest he takes ages to settle when moved and I am a nervous rider just regaining my confidence so settled at the yard.
 
Even though you are settled and happy there it sounds as though he is not
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Tough one, but he is trying to tell you something...
 
The rest of the time he loves it. He never weaves at any other time and my trainer says that there is a lot to be said for us both being happy ie if i move to a place which knocks my confidence then riding will become an issue and if i am scared again he will lose his confidence, does that make sense?
 
Can he not go out as soon as he has had his breakfast? That is what we used to do with the 'stress heads' at the yard, the stress heads always went out first, and we were usually leaning over the door waiting for them to finish as we would be done feeding before they had finished (not quite literally, but you know what I mean)!
 
He has been on yard since aug but was there previously for 2 years but left for 6 months (which was when I lost my confidence). He started weaving at xmas and i think it was when we had the freezing fog 3 days before xmas and they were not allowed out due icey fields. He also seems ok if Istand and talk to him however i work shifts so can only get there 2 days a week.
 
I wish he could however everyone else on full livery so they do all rugs and then turn out. If he went out then he would be on own which really gets to him, he charges round field calling and gets them all charged up. hes a proper baby.
 
We used to accomodate the livery horses - nothing was ever turned out on their own - I would talk to YO and say "he needs to go out first, with a friend, then he will not weave" - as the YO has noticed the weaving, I can't see this being an issue? It doesn't take that long to do two horses rugs and get them out, then it can go back to their usual routine
 
My friends horse used to weave, she was put in one of the smaller stables with the anti weaving bars, she doesnt weave now and she doesnt box walk.

Before this she got her on of the feed balls, she had great fun with it (but very loud!)
 
sorry to jump in here but a lady at the yard has an ex point to pointer who weaves in the box and has now started to weave in the field - she doesn't seem bothered about it though!
 
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Alternatively wait until all the other horses are out before you go and see him (leave him in), he'll hate it for a few days but will sonn get used to the fact that he is not going out yet and calm down

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No - will just make the poor lad worse.
 
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