Weaving!

[Sassenach_1234]

I bought a TB 6 weeks ago and she’s lovely! I knew she weaved in the morning when waiting to be turned out but it seems she weaves every time she’s in and the minute she gets in. Little grass in the field at the moment and lots of hay in the stable yet she still weaves immediately and doesn’t seem to settle. I’ve started keeping her out 24/7 but it’s SO wet and we live in northern Scotland so it gets to -15 in winter and snowy.

I’ve tried just keeping her stable door open for her to go in and out but even in bad weather she’s not used it.

Any advice?

 

[fetlock]

If she's only weaving over the stable door is the door of the type that you can put something in place to prevent her from doing it on those occasions you do need to bring her in?

 

[Sassenach_1234]

If she's only weaving over the stable door is the door of the type that you can put something in place to prevent her from doing it on those occasions you do need to bring her in?

Yes I could put one of the metal things up as i think she only does it over the door…

 

[Sassenach_1234]

 

[MrsMurs]

I’ve seen grills with the ‘v’ used with good effect for a while, but the horse in question switched weaving for box walking instead.
Leaving the horse the option of being in or out sounds the best solution, and rug/feed accordingly. Another idea to try might be to hang a swede or carrot from the ceiling when horse needs to in stable as a nice distraction? Worth a go x

 

[Flowerofthefen]

We had a weaver once. We hung a swede each side of his door so that he would bash himself. It did work a little. We had to sell him in the end, it drove us mad.

 

[AmyMay]

How long has she been out of training?

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

How bad is the weaving? Is it a gentle sway or a manic dash side to side?

 

[twiggy2]

She weaves to deal with what she finds stressful, stopping her by putting obstacles in her way is not the best way to deal with it, does she have company both in and out of the stable?
I would let her choose in or out and make sure there is plenty of hay wherever she chooses to be and rug for outside, she will be fine and maybe when she settles the weaving will reduce

 

[honetpot]

^ This and perhaps try a stable mirror.
I had a mare that I sent a way for backing, they put her next door to a stallion that banged constantly and she started to do it because she was stressed. When she was at home or stabled at a show, she never showed any signs of it.
I would be looking for triggers and trying to remove them, you prevent from her weaving, and it's likely she will do something else, like wind sucking, or weave behind the grill, and that is another problem.
It's like a bear in a cage, it has to find an outlet for something it can not get away from.

 

[Sassenach_1234]

I’ve seen grills with the ‘v’ used with good effect for a while, but the horse in question switched weaving for box walking instead.
Leaving the horse the option of being in or out sounds the best solution, and rug/feed accordingly. Another idea to try might be to hang a swede or carrot from the ceiling when horse needs to in stable as a nice distraction? Worth a go x

Thank you. Luckily I do have the option to leaver her out 24/7 - hopefully if she REALLY wanted her hay she would come in and get it ?.

 

[Sassenach_1234]

How bad is the weaving? Is it a gentle sway or a manic dash side to side?

Hmm I have a video but can’t upload. it’s not super slow but not super manic either - it’s enough to make changing rugs tricky though

 

[Sassenach_1234]

How bad is the weaving? Is it a gentle sway or a manic dash side to side?

Hmm I have a video but can’t upload. it’s not super slow but not super manic either - it’s enough to make changing rugs tricky though

She weaves to deal with what she finds stressful, stopping her by putting obstacles in her way is not the best way to deal with it, does she have company both in and out of the stable?
I would let her choose in or out and make sure there is plenty of hay wherever she chooses to be and rug for outside, she will be fine and maybe when she settles the weaving will reduce

She has another horse in the paddock next to hers but can’t see her when she’s in unless the other horse is out and about in their paddock.

 

[Sassenach_1234]

^ This and perhaps try a stable mirror.
I had a mare that I sent a way for backing, they put her next door to a stallion that banged constantly and she started to do it because she was stressed. When she was at home or stabled at a show, she never showed any signs of it.
I would be looking for triggers and trying to remove them, you prevent from her weaving, and it's likely she will do something else, like wind sucking, or weave behind the grill, and that is another problem.
It's like a bear in a cage, it has to find an outlet for something it can not get away from.

I read about adding a mirror so I might try that. She’s generally a very laid back horse and not spooky so I’ve no idea what’s making her anxious in the stable.

 

[Bellaboo18]

Honestly I'd want to find the reason for her to need the coping behaviour.
Is she an exracer? Has she got company?

I'd say the planting and weaving are closely related.

 

[Bellaboo18]

I read about adding a mirror so I might try that. She’s generally a very laid back horse and not spooky so I’ve no idea what’s making her anxious in the stable.

She's alone in her stable, a big thing for most horses and a good reason to be stressed.

 

[Sassenach_1234]

How long has she been out of training?

She’s not out of work. Most weeks ridden 5 days a week but as the weather is getting bad it will be more like 3/4 realistically in N.Scotland!

 

[Shilasdair]

My advice;
1. Let her live outside if she wants.
2. Stick another rug on her if it's cold.
3. Make sure she has company - Tbs are often very social, herd-orientated animals.
4. Rather than an enclosed stable, could you have an open-fronted shelter which she could share with her friends?

Weaving is a sign she's unhappy so you are doing the right thing by letting her stay out.

 

[Sassenach_1234]

Honestly I'd want to find the reason for her to need the coping behaviour.
Is she an exracer? Has she got company?

I'd say the planting and weaving are closely related.

Not an ex racer. She has company in the paddock next to her. No stables next to hers though but she had a horse next to her at her old yard and still weaved in the morning.

 

[Sassenach_1234]

My advice;
1. Let her live outside if she wants.
2. Stick another rug on her if it's cold.
3. Make sure she has company - Tbs are often very social, herd-orientated animals.
4. Rather than an enclosed stable, could you have an open-fronted shelter which she could share with her friends?

Weaving is a sign she's unhappy so you are doing the right thing by letting her stay out.

Thanks, she’s doesn’t have a shelter but that’s why I just leave the stable door open so she can do in and out. I’d hope that if she was desperate she’d go in! Her hay is in there.

 

[Shilasdair]

Not an ex racer. She has company in the paddock next to her. No stables next to hers though but she had a horse next to her at her old yard and still weaved in the morning.

It's a locomotory stereotypy - she does it when her need to move somewhere is frustrated by the stable door. In the mornings her need to go to her feed might be the issue, or it might be her need to go find company.

 

[Shilasdair]

I think buying her a small companion such as a Shetland would solve the issue - they could share the stable.

 

[Bellaboo18]

Not an ex racer. She has company in the paddock next to her. No stables next to hers though but she had a horse next to her at her old yard and still weaved in the morning.

That's a very hard life for most horses especially a tb. They're herd animals, no company in her stable and just a horse over the fence while out isn't ideal.
Weaving is a stress response.

 

[Sassenach_1234]

Honestly I'd want to find the reason for her to need the coping behaviour.
Is she an exracer? Has she got company?

I'd say the planting and weaving are closely related.

Oh and she did plant in the school when I first got her but doesn’t now. However she will plant if she’s hacking alone…

 

[Sassenach_1234]

I think buying her a small companion such as a Shetland would solve the issue - they could share the stable.

Yes I wondered that. My husband will be pleased ??

 

[Bellaboo18]

Oh and she did plant in the school when I first got her but doesn’t now. However she will plant if she’s hacking alone…

So she shows signs of stress when alone in two different environments.

 

[Shilasdair]

Yes I wondered that. My husband will be pleased ??

Or a nice youngster....

 

[Sassenach_1234]

That's a very hard life for most horses especially a tb. They're herd animals, no company in her stable and just a horse over the fence while out isn't ideal.
Weaving is a stress response.

Surely one horse next to her is fine when she’s out? Oh and a sheep.

Its only when she is in that she can’t see her. But oven at her old yard she did it with other horses there.

 

[Sassenach_1234]

So she shows signs of stress when alone in two different environments.

Yes I guess so when you put it like that. But she used to hack alone with the old owner apparently.

 

[Shilasdair]

Surely one horse next to her is fine when she’s out? Oh and a sheep.

Its only when she is in that she can’t see her. But oven at her old yard she did it with other horses there.

Horses are much happier when they can see, smell, hear and TOUCH another horse - my two live together and you'd be amazed how often they touch each other.