- Weaving is a lateral swinging of the head, neck and forequarters; stall walking is a repetitive circular walking in the stall.
- The two behaviors are considered to be related, because horses that perform one of these behaviors may also perform the other instead of also performing an oral repetitive behavior.
- Although people believe that weaving affects performance or puts undue strain on tendons, there is no scientific study to confirm that belief.
- A weaver will display its behavior in a predictable manner.
- It often precedes an arousing event (feeding time), when close social contact is limited but the horse still can see other horses, exercise and feeding allowance are not matched, or bedding is not straw.
- Repetitive locomotor behaviors are more common when horses are kept in small (< 4 acres) paddocks, with restricted cantering.
- Some cases of stall walking may be managed if the feeding is made to resemble ambulatory grazing by having piles of hay scattered in the stall or installing foraging devices that induce horses need to spend more time eating.
- Research suggests that the installation of a mirror inside the stall reduces in many cases the incidence of both weaving and stall walking.
- It is recommended that the mirror be placed toward the front of the stall so the reflection can be seen as the horse approaches the door.
Following are some tips for
treating and preventing weaving and stall walking:
• Increase turn-out and exercise,
or manage horse from pasture if possible.
• Usefeedingstationsaroundthestallor
scatter feed and hay around the stall.
• Try to reduce predictors of the
arrival of food, which may be difficult because most if not all barns
work on a schedule
• Introduce a stall mirrorif the
horse is sociable. (If the horse is anti-social a mirror may increase
other undesirable behaviors such as kicking and lunging in the
stall.)
• Avoid using anti-weaving grills
and other devices, which research shows frustrate horses further.
• Wean gradually rather than
abruptly, and wean in groups.
References
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