Page 1022 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

WEAVING

VetBooks.ir A horse that repeatedly swings its head from side to side and rocks its weight from one front

foot to the other is said to weave. This is usually a response to boredom, frustration and
anxiety in a horse confined to the stable for long periods with limited social contact with

other horses. Many horses perform this stereotypy when anticipating a feed, exercise or
turnout. It often occurs if they are anxious when other horses are turned out or leave the yard

for exercise.

This behaviour does not affect the performance of a horse but should be declared if the
horse is sold. Abnormal wear patterns may develop on the shoes and it can be associated with
weight loss.

Causes

• Long periods of confinement in a stable.

• Lack of close contact with other horses.

Factors such as insufficient forage may be a contributory factor in some cases.

Control

Control measures include:
• turning the horse out into a large paddock with a group of compatible companions; they

need sufficient room to express normal behaviour and move naturally at walk, trot and
canter

• putting grilles in the partitions between adjacent boxes

• putting an extra ‘top door’ type window in the back wall of the stable

• using a specially designed and unbreakable stable mirror if the above options are not
possible or do not prevent the behaviour; studies have shown this to be very effective at

reducing weaving (Figure 22.4)
• providing ad-lib forage

• providing a companion, either another horse close by or a sheep, goat or chicken

• vary the stable routines so that the horse is less likely to become agitated in response to
anticipation of a particular event.

• provide distractions in the stable eg toys, trickle feeders or hang a swede or turnip on a