Would you buy a horse that weaves at meal times?

Personally, no - but that's because I once did and had the vets bills and heartache to go with it, if you do consider one make sure that you have their front legs thoroughly checked in the vetting & preferably have scans done too as weaving puts additional strain on the tendons and ligaments.
 
If it was only at feeding times and he passed the vetting and was what i was looking for then yes i would buy it. My horse looks like a dragon gone wrong at feeding times ... it doesnt put me off although i swear he will crack his head one day :p
 
My horse weaves- out of stropping- never at feed times, she also only does it when im on the yard!

Although a slightly inexperienced owner told me the other day "I love the way your horse dances at the door" oh dear :D
 
We bought one that was only supposed to weave at meal times. Turned out it did it pretty much all the time when stabled. I'm quite relaxed about vices but this drove me nuts, so no I wouldn't buy it!!!
 
I bought one that weaved, she hasn't done it for 6 years and is stabled overnight during winter. I got a great horse at a bargain price with a vice that she's never exhibited!
 
We've got a 16.3hh warmbloods dressage horse at our yard on livery with us and he weaves. I can safely say it doesn't bother him in any way other then when he's bored he does it. I wouldn't be put off at all unless they did it day on day out and lost weight because of it or put an overload of strain on their legs.
 
my boy used to weave in the morning when stabled (ex-racer, thin he learned to do it when bored stabled 23 hours a day as a racer). but now he is mostly out and when in he is in a barn with another horse, have not seen him weave since he moved there 2 years ago.
again agree that if it really is just at feed time it is no big deal, just get it vetted and tell the vet to be particularly aware.
 
Tiddlypom said:
^^^^ This. Are you sure though that it is only at mealtimes? This needs checking out. A horse that weaves constantly is a menace.
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Why are they a menace?


I would, in fact our ex racer weaves. not as much as he used to but he does it mealtimes, if he gets a little stressed and if he wants to go out sooner than you are ready.
he is perfect in every other way and if you ignore it and don't tell him off he soon stops and goes back to his hay.
he did have ulcers but his weaving didn't cause them as we had him for two years before the ulcers and they are all cleared up now and he still does it.
 
SlightlyChristmassy said:
Why are they a menace?
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See Shooting Star's post #4. A constant weaver puts itself under great physical stress.

I've had a horse which weaved at mealtimes, it's quite common, and nothing of consequence. However, it's also quite common for a horse with a vice such as weaving or cribbing to be sold with the vice declared, but with an assurance that it only does it infrequently. Unfortunately, when the horse is brought home, it cribs or weaves constantly, and probably always has done. The purchaser has no come back as the vice has been declared, and the vendors will stick to their guns that it never did it that often before.

If the OP has some background on this horse, it would be more reassuring. It's certainly worth making some enquiries, as the horse should be cheaper even if it only weaves occasionally.
 
Yes I would buy it. Mine weaves when she gets excited, or a bit stressed, but it soon stops. Turning them out doesn't always stop them though - if it's cold and wet and mine wants to come in, she'll weave over the gate through stress!
 
It wouldn't put me off unless it was extreme. Is the horse kept in a rigid routine and so knows food is coming? My boy always begged at feed times, but now that I don't have a set feed time and no routine he has stopped it, as he never knows when feed is coming! He only does it now if he sees me making feeds up and anticipates it.
 
Tern said:
Yes but i'd shove a weave grill on stable :)
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I wouldn't use a weave grill, I understand studies have shown that physically preventing a horse carrying out vices can cause great stress. Better to turnout with a companion or find similar suitable alternatives to relieve stress!
 
My own look on it, has worked for a few i've known they used to have ears pinned aginst there head and weave no routine change but grill in, vice has stopped and ears are inquisitive :P
 
We have had a fair few weavers at the yard and the one thing not one single one of then got wrong with them was dodgy tendons or ligaments. The constant movement strengthened them up and hardened them to pressure. They did all have knacked knees, fetlocks and hocks though.
 
I did, basically mine weaves all the time when stabled so I solved the problem and by turning him out. He lives out 24/7 in all weathers ( yes even like today) and I have a horse that is happier 100% in every way :) x
 
H weaved until he lived out, and then he stopped completely. Spud weaves like a demon if he's stressed - it is just mealtimes at home but he can be funny about staying away from home. He knows what he likes and what he doesn't like, and some places he just won't settle but others he will be calm as you like. Mostly we just ignore him though.
 
I bought a 3yo that did not weave, had daily turnout, but was stabled next to one that did weave, guess what, she watched and within a week was weaving too! Although at the time I would not have bought her, it never did her any harm, was not constant, and she was not stressy generally.
I would buy one as long as it did not seem to stressed generally, and it was just at mealtimes. A few visits to the yard at various times would confirm or deny.
I have had a horse visit our yard who weaved to such an extent I would not have bought, it really went for it in a big way, was stressed a lot of the time and the way it went you could tell he would likely have future leg problems (if he did not knock himself out first!).
I once had a horse here who box walked mildly at mealtimes, I declared it, and in its new yard it never did it again!
I feel a lot that what my horse does in his own time is his own business. My current one stares at himself in the mirror for hours, even has an argument with himself.
Would definitely factor in ulcer treatment possibility though, and declare to the vet on vetting.
 
Holly Hocks said:
Yes I would buy it. Mine weaves when she gets excited, or a bit stressed, but it soon stops. Turning them out doesn't always stop them though - if it's cold and wet and mine wants to come in, she'll weave over the gate through stress!
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Agree with this ! I have one who weaves at mealtimes and when out of hay, he's in at the mo due to a trauma to his hind that involved a nail going thru navicular bursa, coffin joint and tendon, turnout only allowed in school and walk only hacks. He has come such along way since July. I give him hay at am feeds as thats the only time he doesn't have any but he's worked this out and weaves away if no hay even when in the school for 5 mins for a roll but he's a happy chap so if the horse fits the bill everywhere else I don't see a huge problem.
 
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