What is people's problem with weavers?

L

Lucinda_x

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 November 2008
Messages
472
Location
Devon
Visit site
I was at Exeter horse sales the other day and saw a nice looking ex-racer who weaved. It made me wonder, what is people's problem with weavers? I've never had or been on a yard with a weaver so could someone enlighten me? :)
 
I have not had that much experience of weavers, We only had Charlie for about 6 months, but he drove me nuts with his weaving! If he was in his stable and there were people about, he just couldnt stop it!
 
Perhaps people just don't like seeing a stressy horse so it will put some people off from buying them, specially if they can't provide a suitable enviroment that helps to prevent the horse from doing it in the first place, not only that but the damaging effects that can be done to the horse from it weaving or if it has done so alot in the past, some do it alot, others just odd times.

I've had a weaver (and he was pretty bad, didn't know when I bought him) but then I managed him right to prevent him from doing it, in fact years went by when I never saw him do it, so to me it wasn't a problem but many yards don't always suite a horse that weaves so it wouldn't make sense to buy one, nor would it be fair on the horse, if you are limited as to how you can keep them.
 
It doesn't bother me and it doesn't bother my other horses - on yards here we have two blocks of stables facing each other, had a weaver for years on one side and not one of the horses, either permanent or short term liveries, facing her has ever tried to copy. I usually say to people who come onto the yard, if it bothers you, don't look at her! I have endless problems overnight stabling at shows, usually the lead rein mummy brigade who complain, insist I move my horse, do all but cover up their little ponies eyes!!
 
Lucinda_x said:
What can they do to themselfs?
Click to expand...

Long terms problems can be wear and tear to the limbs - not designed to take the constant lateral weight of horse being pushed side to side. Mine has always been stabled on rubber matting, and has always had awful legs, so I can't categorically say that it was caused by the weaving but quite possible.
 
My boy weaves quite badly.

He can get to a point where he sweats up. He has worn two holes in his rubber matting, and in the winter when they are in he has to have shoes on the front as he wears down the inside of his feet.

He also cant be on box rest because of a leg injury due to his weaving.

Also, people claim (although I've never seen it) that other horses will copy if they can see one horse weaving.

It does look quite distressing, but I've found it is made 100 x worse when people put weave bars up, (as he just does it behind the bars, and gets more upset) and when people try to "talk him out of it".

I just leave him to it and he calms down eventually and eats his hay. I have had some very nasty comments in the past due to his weaving, but I just let it wash over now - he is a lot better in the winter after the first two nights in.

In Lloyd's case he is not bored, just very badly treated while in a stable, and left in a stable for over a month where he was too big to lift his head up. He will never get over it fully, and TBH I don't expect him too.
 
I'v never had a weaver, but it wouldn't put me off buying one, if they were right in every other way. It's their way of relieving stress! I bite my nails and smoke, so I'd be a hypocrit!
 
I have a weaver, and it used to bother me, but only because of peoples attitudes, that said, I think more and more people are becoming educated to the fact that they don't copy, but you still get the odd ill educated person on a yard.
Its distressing to watch as you know the horse isn't happy about something, but, if managed well, it can be helped. My mare weaves when stressed (aggravated if I take her buddy away) but I sometimes see her just gently swaying from side to side. One thing I will say is since I had her diastemers (sp) widened and she isn't getting food stuck in her teeth she seems a lot happier in the stable and weaves a lot less (denstist said she would have been in a lot of pain), so some weavers maybe in pain (a bit like windsuckers & ulcers).
Weavers need lots of turnout (but, I think that can be said for all horses).
I think people need to realise that weaving is primarily a man made problem, and horses tend not to copy unless kept in a stressful environment and if they are predisposed to it (ie of a stressy nature, my warmblood would never weave, she would be more likekly to windsuck/crib) so a little more understanding of the 'vice' from so called horse lovers would be nice :)
 
bumblelion said:
I'v never had a weaver, but it wouldn't put me off buying one, if they were right in every other way. It's their way of relieving stress! I bite my nails and smoke, so I'd be a hypocrit!
Click to expand...

This is a good point :) I was just wondering really because some people are so against them :)
 
Generally it means they've been poorly managed in the past (not always as bad as Ally_F's horse but frequently not turned out enough or, for some other reason, not happy in a stable). This is a stereotypical behaviour and basically means they've got a mental problem with, usually, stabling or sometimes waiting for feeds.

Personally I'd probably want to ensure 24/7/365 turnout and constant access to forage, with lots of v small meals/v low sugar stuff if hard feed required, for a weaver, then try, and be prepared to fail, to reacclimatise to short periods of stabling. E.g. for treats only.

Basically, live with a mentally damaged horse exhibiting compulsive behaviour and/or be very, very careful abt management.
 
Lucinda_x said:
This is a good point :) I was just wondering really because some people are so against them :)
Click to expand...

I've always said that its their way of relieving stress and i never put bars up, its cruel, if I am looking at a yard and they say bars should go up I simply won't move on to that yard.

If you are serious about this horse talk to some yards that you like first to see if they are happy to take a weaver (but please bear in mind, the yard owner may be happy but its the liveries you will get all the stick off, so make sure the liveries are happy with it too, and please don't let them shove you in a corner out of the way, thats the worst thing you can do to a horse with a stereotypie, they need companionship to help them feel secure.
 
There used to be a very bad weaver on our yard that got himself into a right state in the mornings if he did not go out with the others. So bad he would litterally be dripping with sweat.

He also cribbed the trees and fences to such an extent that he was asked to leave the yard :(

very unfair in my opinion and I expect there was probably a serious underlieing stress related condition that was causing it.

I have to say that it would put me off buying a horse but not to the extent that I would immedaitely say no way but it would have to be an exceptional animal.
 
I've seen some really bad weavers, one that plants his bum in the middle of the stable and runs his front legs to the door and back to the back of the box when the yard is really busy. So he gets stabled in the furthest away stable away from all the commotion and he isn't half as bad, he just mumbles along over his door then. He also hates the radio so that is a complete no go while he is around.

Whilst it puts so much strain on the joints there is also a theory that a weaver will never break down as they will have super fit, super strong tendons and ligaments. Not too sure on that theory as the weaver dudey above did his check ligament, though to be fair he did it this season when he has been hardly weaving at all.

It wouldn't put me off buying a horse I just wouldn't go out intentionally looking for a weaver. At the moment I have a box walker. He is an ex-racer and I have never actually seen him do it - the mess of his bed tells me he does it. So he obviuously does it when everything is quiet and he is bored!
 
Not only is it unbreable to look at (see Benson's post) but other horses can pick it up as a habit! It's often a habit of stressy horses who find it hard to keep condition and obviously the constant movement doesn't help with that, plus wear and tear on the joints, uneven wearing of shoes etc etc.

Having said that if you found a pony you liked who could have 24 hour turnout (or only be kept in very occasionally) then it might not be an issue for some people. I personally wouldn't touch a weaver unless I could keep it separately and hardly ever keep it in. Very distressing to watch and the grills only partially help manage it, some horses will stand behind their grills and weave away almost the entire time they are stabled.
 
My filly weaves on and off when she is in. She never came in until she was three and she isn't overly keen on it in the summer.

In winter when it's raining she never does it (prefers inside) but at the moment whilst she is on box rest it is fairly constant.

I just keep her snack ball filled and that distracts her. Also ad lib hay helps as she is too busy filling her face. No one on my yard cares about it and nor do I. We just let her get on with it. Would never try and stop her as it is her way of coping.

It wouldn't stop me buying a horse either. I might want some money off as it's considered a vice but if it was otherwise a lovely horse then who cares? I wouldn't want to be on a yard that doesn't have horses that weave as I think it shows a basic lack of knowledge to think it's a problem and I wouldn't want a YO that knows that little anyway!
 
Suziq77 said:
Not only is it unbreable to look at (see Benson's post) but other horses can pick it up as a habit! It's often a habit of stressy horses who find it hard to keep condition and obviously the constant movement doesn't help with that, plus wear and tear on the joints, uneven wearing of shoes etc etc.

Having said that if you found a pony you liked who could have 24 hour turnout (or only be kept in very occasionally) then it might not be an issue for some people. I personally wouldn't touch a weaver unless I could keep it separately and hardly ever keep it in. Very distressing to watch and the grills only partially help manage it, some horses will stand behind their grills and weave away almost the entire time they are stabled.[/QUOTE

I'm not sure if other horses can pick it up as a habit. I know this used to be said but I'm sure the word is now that they don't (old wives tale, kind of thing). My two used to be stabled opposite a weaver for a few years when I was on livery and it didn't affect them, nor the other 15 horses surrounding.

I maybe wrong, so don't shoot me down, just giving my opinion.
Click to expand...
 
bumblelion said:
I'm not sure if other horses can pick it up as a habit. I know this used to be said but I'm sure the word is now that they don't (old wives tale, kind of thing). My two used to be stabled opposite a weaver for a few years when I was on livery and it didn't affect them, nor the other 15 horses surrounding.

I maybe wrong, so don't shoot me down, just giving my opinion.
Click to expand...

No, you're right. It isn't 'catching'. This is why I couldn't be at a yard with someone who thinks it is. It just infuriates me. Aghhhh!!
 
fleabittengrey said:
It doesn't bother me and it doesn't bother my other horses - on yards here we have two blocks of stables facing each other, had a weaver for years on one side and not one of the horses, either permanent or short term liveries, facing her has ever tried to copy. I usually say to people who come onto the yard, if it bothers you, don't look at her! I have endless problems overnight stabling at shows, usually the lead rein mummy brigade who complain, insist I move my horse, do all but cover up their little ponies eyes!!
Click to expand...

lol I like this about covering up ponies eyes!! Funny how people think it is a 'copied' vice.
 
I have both a cribber and a weaver. Both are oap's and both are out 24/7 which helps to a degree.
None of my youngsters have ever copied either of them, and the cribber is actually my "grandad" figure for my young colts.
 
For the poster who says the copy, what tosh!! Its these peoples attitudes that annoy me, I have a weaver and 2 youngsters and been on many yards, no horse has ever copied. A horse who starts to weave is stressed with his environment and needs to be managed accordingly, vices are aquired by horses due to poor management- not becasue they 'copy' :rolleyes:
 
I dont agree it is copied either my gelding doesnt copy my mare and shes chronic.

It cannot be managed out either, my horses are out as much as possible pretty much 24/7 364 (discounting really bad weather) and my mare still does it in the field and even undersaddle if we are waiting about for things.

I can box rest her if she gets hurt as she weaves all day, and drops weight.

I have been told tho that the weaving releases chemicals within the brain that the horse ends up depending on, I dont know if it was something like seratonin or something similar.

It is distressing to look at and sometimes I cant bear to be near her when shes doing it the constant clicking of her shoes as her feet come off the ground and the constant moving from side to side and swinging of the head is sometimes enough to drive you up the wall.
 
the main problem with weavers is the urban myths that a lot of people believe, not the weaving itself.

Horses don't copy.

There is absolutely zero research to show weaving causes strain on the legs.

My main eventer weaved and simply had a rubber matt at the front of his stable.
He was always fed and turned out first which isn't that hard.
He was always turned out, even if we were off eventing, even if he just went in the arena for 10 minutes as he needed to stick to his routine of going out every morning.

He is currently in his TENTH season BE eventing and has not had a lame step.

He was used to nanny numerous youngsters, including freshly weaned and stressed ones and not one youngster picked up even a glimmer of the habit.
 
One of my liveries was a weaver, she was an ex arab racer and had had a really tough life before her current owner go her. She is a very bad weaver, head nods up and down and she sort of piaffes on the spot. Trouble is it has damaged her hind tendons in both legs as the fetlocks are constantly hyperflexing. We kept her outside 24/7 but, she had a nasty fall on the road, she cut both her knees and because of her weaving they refused to heal, she was constantly opening up the wounds. We put her in the bull pen rather than her stable as that gave her a shelter and a concrete area so she could see the other horses, I then moved in 2 small pony friends to join her to see if that helped, it did to a small extent but she still weaved. the only thing we could do was put on Robert Jones bandages on both front legs to try and keep the knees still, that helped a bit, but caused pressure sores because she was still weaving and moving her legs. She made her own recuperation far far longer that it needed to be. And her constant weaving has caused permanent damage to her hocks and fetlocks. As a yard owner I don;t have any problem with a weaver, I would have one on livery again, and i know they do not pass it on., However I would never buy a weaver as the management through injury is far far more stressful for them than a non weaver.
 
The weavers i've known have always been fantastic out of the box. I've always been bought up to believe that they're bored and want to be doing. I'm not bothered by horses vices.
x
 
Dizzy weaves, gets quite artistic about it, adding a neat little bob as she goes, but she only does it when people are around that she thinks should be doing something with her. Only does it in the stable.

Don't bother me none. It's her way of telling me she's not happy and would rather be either working or back in the field.
 
I knew a horse that weaved so badly in the field he used to fall over regularly. It emerged that he had serious mental problems and was PTS in the end. It was very distressing to see.

I wouldn't buy a weaver, I hate seeing it, makes me feel anxious for the horse for some reason.
 
I bought weaver a few years ago. Didn't realise he weaved when we went to see him as as soon as we had finished riding she fed him his dinner to keep him back from the door!! He was a lovely horse in always apart from weaving! I don't mind vices as long as the horse is right for me, but I could not stand his weaving, it drove me mad!!
 
Sorry I didn't mean to be ignorant about the "copying" thing, I honestly thought it was true from having seen a number of weaving TBs when I was younger and being told that they had picked it up from each other - as an adult I can appreciate that perhaps the way the horses were managed in their early years led to the behaviour developing.

I can see how upsetting it would be if other liveries made a fuss about your horse and it's really interesting to hear that even when kept with a chronic weaver horses haven't picked it up. That certainly makes me happier about stabling at shows (no I'm not a lead rein mum but I do have baby horses which I worry about).

This has certainly been an interesting thread and I hope I didn't inadvertantly offend anyone. You certainly do learn something new every day......:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top