Would you buy a horse that weaved?

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crestagold

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Hi,
I was looking for a show jumping horse for BS(JA) and there is a lovely horse for sale, but has been seen to weave at feed times.

Do you think a horse which weaves at feed times would affect its ridden work? And do you think a horse which weaves would have a naturally more stressy temperament? I personally would be turning the horse out 24/7 and only be stabling in bad weather therefore, do you think the habit would continue in the field?

Many Thanks in advanced for any advice.
 
The weaving, esp at feed time, could well be down to stomach ulcers, not necessarily a more stressy horse. If this is the case then you could manage it relatively easily with feeding a high fibre diet. If the horse is right for you in all other ways, then I wouldn't be put off, esp as you say he would be turned out 24/7.
 
If you can guarantee that he will be turned out 24/7 for the rest of his life with you, then I wouldn't consider weaving a problem unless he exhibits this behaviour in the field as well.

Some do, if it is so ingrained into them and then I would avoid.
 
It doesn't concern me what a horse chooses to do in its spare time;)
It might be more stressy generally, but might not; it might weave in the field or might not, it's difficult to say either way, but if the horse fits the bill otherwise - weaving would not be a problem for me.
 
My pony is a weaver. He has to live out 24 / 7. He'll tolerate being in a stable for a short period (as in an hour or so!) and will even weave in a lorry / trailer. When I first got him he was awful - and it affected him in that he had a really tense neck, his shoulders are actually bigger from the weaving and I had to have his back done regualrly as he would put it out / make it sore. (I have seen him weave quite violently at times)

He very occasionally weaves in the field too if bored / hungry / waiting for his dinner - and is quite a stressy pony generally. He'll also sometimes 'field walk' up and down the fence line.


Touch wood, now I have him in a good routine and in good work, I haven't seen him do it for months. He's much more relaxed and happy but only because he is out all the time, whatever the weather, and is ridden lots so he doesn't get bored or frustrated.
 
Yes I would in that situation. Absolutely. I'm not one that gets worked up over smaller vices and I don't believe other horses will pick up your horses bad habits either.
My huge bug is biting and kicking. I can't bear it. I would rather have a weaver or a wind sucker ( as long as it wasn't enough to effect their health ) than have something that is going to boot me or eat me.
 
Yes same as Cyberchick, i would definitely buy a weaver especially if only doing it at feed times.
In fact i bought a weaver, he's now 25yo & he hasnt weaved for around 15 years now.
 
I used to own a weaver and with him it was a stess reaction, he'd weave if horses were being moved around, if he could hear people/horses but not see them and while waiting for his tea, I did put a grill up but he started head bobbing instead..

It didn't bother me seeing horses weave but watching your own horse weave manicly like a lunatic because some other person was in the school making a noise I did find quite distressing..

I wouldn't buy another weaver unless it was pretty much perfect for the job I wanted it for or it was very cheap!
 
Pilfer weaves and i would buy him 1000 times over.

He is a super eventing horse and such a lovely horse to ride he can do whatever he likes in his spare time.

he weaves sometimes at feedtime but mainly when in the morning before turn out or in the evening at bringing in time.

he likes a very solid routine and hardly weaves at all once he is settled and happy at a yard.

it certainly wouldn't put me off a horse.
 
Weaving isn't associated with the same sorts of health problems as cribbing/ windsucking. I have one who weaves when he is frustrated - feed times and when he is wanting to get back into the field - but that adds up to about two or three sways per day as he is out 24/7. He is a generally impatient kind of horse, but lovely natured and great to ride. In your situation it wouldn't put me off at all.
 
I did...he was manic when I got him....hardly ever does it at all now...bit of a head nod when he's waiting to go out and thats all.

Doesn't affect his ridden work.....he's never lame ( touch wood).

I did put a square of rubber matting in his door-way so if he feels the need to dance the night away theres less strain on his legs/feet.

He is in no way nasty...he has a lovely nature- just gets a bit excitable now and again.....I would buy him again tomorrow.
 
Monty weaved and he lived out 24/7 until he was PTS at 29 years old. He actually weaved in the field at times of stress (like when Zoom was out at shows) but was much better living out than in. When he was stabled he would weave CONSTANTLY!

I think I would definately get a weaver, provided I could put them in a very solid routine (and could cope with the associated stressiness that you often have with a horse that weaves! ;))
 
Mine is a weaver and I would definitely buy her a million times over. She rarely does it now, she doesn't do it at her door either but up the side of the box, criss-crossing up and down. Only when waiting for me to take her to the field, not at feed times though this was when she was seen to do it at her previous owners. She also has a stable mirror and she stares into that if she's feeling a bit worried.

I would say that weavers are probably the worriers of the horse world but she's great to ride and tries her heart out.
 
If the horse is right for you in other ways,weaving shouldnt be a problem as you can manage it.

In keeping him out you should almost eliminate it.

A horse i bought last year used to weave, but he has only done it a couple of times when we first got him as we have changed his management.

He its mostly out, when stabled he is brought in late, and turned out early, gets ad lib hay etc and we give him a supplement to help with ulcers in case this is a problem.
 
I did buy a weaver- It was sold to me as weaving at feed times which appeared to be true- Unfortunatly its become worse- he has spent a lot of time on box rest but even now if he has hay he usually wont weave unless there is too much going on or his friends are being turned out.
It never effects his work in any way at all and i dont use a grill because its his stress relief and i worry about what he may do otherwise or the fact that he may just stand in the stable and weave further back which would upset him more.
I used to t/o as much as possible that helped a lot. I do, as someone else mentioned think it bothers me more than him!
 
My Arab mare weaves and trots on the spot often when she is in although not always. She is lovel;y to ride, I don't think it affects her at all. I had to box rest her this year and even on 8 ACP tablets she was still restless. Generally she lives out and I have never seen her weave in the field. Because I really like her I can live with it but it makes getting her ready for shows stressful as I can never bring her in the night before so she is never the cleanest! I think if you really like the horse you just live with it; they have all got some problem or issue.
 
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No, I would find it much too irritating, same goes for box walkers and windsuckers (I would be constantly annoyed that this had been caused to develop in the first place). There are many horses out there without these problems though you could get a bargain.
 
My horse of a lifetime was a weaver. He was a terrific horse to ride, but was quite a stress-head!(I've never seen 'a plod' weave). I turned him out 24/7 (full TB) & he was a changed horse. However, as another poster said, it meant that when he had to come in for any reason he was 10 times worse than he was in the first place.

I agree with those who think it's a sign of intelligence. It's usually individuals who are talented, forward going & enjoy their work that do it.
 
I have a weaver, who is now retired she used to do it at feed times and if we were in traffic in the lorry, never affected her performance per se, her dam cribbed, windsucked and weaved!! My newish one has perfected the art of to box walking which I actually find a lot more irritating!! I keep them out 24/7 in the summer (the retired one stays out all the time). Bids had to stay in and do very little over the winter due to suspensory ligament damage and it was awful. In short I'd have a weaver over a box walker.
 
I used to have a weaver many years ago (20 years ...so a long long time ago :-). He used to steeplechase in his youth and I put it down to being down to being in a racing yard environment. He was a fantastic horse and definitely not a stressed head. He used to do it at feeding time etc never in the field. If I found another like him weaving wouldnt put me off.

There is a horse that weaves on the yard I am on now and I would say he definitely does it out of boredom. Rarely ridden and only out 5 hours a day. His joints click and this seems to have got louder in the last 12 months. He has now been diagnosed with ringbone, although I dont know if that is a result of his weaving. When he weaves he throws his shoulders into it if you know what I mean. I have never seen this horse weave in the field.

I suppose there are pros and cons of a weaver and for me it would depend on the individual if I purchased another or not.
 
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