Published: 2015-10-30 13:12:20 Categories: Horse health
background source: valestables.com
Weaving horse - probably the saddest sight we might see in a stable. This, the so-called "hospitalism" is, unfortunately, not a rare thing. Horses that have been locked in stalls against their nature, try to deal with boredom through various addictions.
Weaving and its effects
Unfortunately, weaving is the most harmful to the horse's health. Why? Because the horse, constantly shifting from one leg to another, doing a swinging motion with his head and neck, thus heavily loading his front legs. In result, they undergo a premature "outwear". The horse abrades the front hooves much heavier, which may cause unnatural walk. Additionally, he is susceptible to joint and tendon afflictions, which might quickly make his sport carrier impossible.
Causes
Main cause is probably boredom and resulting frustration of the animal. Lack of companion, constant access to voluminous food (grass, hay), too much meaty food (oats, energetic mixes) in the horse's diet, but also insufficient time spent outside, on the pasture, contribute to first symptoms of weaving in the horse.
The latest research shows that just as cribbing, it might be inherited genetically. It is highly unlikely that the horse contracted it from another horse on the basis of observation. However, a horse that is already genetically prompt to weaving, it might be a stimulus for this addiction.
How to help a horse that weaves?
Complete treatment of weaving is, unfortunately, not possible. However, if the horse started doing that not long ago and he has not yet got used to it, thus it has not become an addiction, we can prevent this. First of all, you should know that your horse weaves out of boredom. Boredom is lack of activity in the stall, no physical activity, and loneliness.
First thing you should to, is to provide your horse with an everyday possibility of being on a pasture, preferably as long as possible. In hard cases, horses can weave being on the paddock. Then it is important that the horse grazes in company of other horses and could constantly crop grass or hay.
Equally important is moving the horse to a bigger stall, preferably with big windows, possibility of visual contact with neighbours and, if possible, placed as close to the entrance or exit of the stable as possible so that the horse can observe what is going on outside. English stable proves best in such situation.
English stable, source: theequestriancorner.com
You should know that the horse's diet plays a key role in such situation. Too much meaty food, followed by too little activity potentiates the symptoms. Then you should try to administer proper amount of oats and energetic mix, adequately to the amount and kind of our horse's job. It is crucial for our pet to have constant access to voluminous food, for example hay. Bags for hay are perfect, you can hang them in a stall and that would prolong the process of consuming the fodder.
Additionally, to provide the horse with company, you can put a "stallmate" in his stall - another horse, pony, sheep or goat.
A good idea is to try the "destroyers" of boredom - various kinds of toys, hanging lickers that you can put in the horse's stall. Some horses react well to a mirror put in their stalls. Such mirror has to be made of shatterproof glass.
How to help a horse that weaves
1. Provide the horse with constant access to voluminous fodder and cut him down on meaty fodder. 2. See to the horse being let out on a pasture each day and stay there as long as possible. 3. As far as possible, put the horse in a stall with big windows, as close to entrance or exit of stable as possible, or in English stable, so he could see from his stall what is going on outside. 4. Equip the stall with "destroyers" of boredom - put there a licker, toys, or shatterproof mirror. 5. Try to give your pet company - another horse, goat, sheep, or other animal that would share a stall with him and provide him company.
background source: imgarcade.com
How to prevent?
Surely, none of us would like to "catch" our horse weaving one day. We can be surprised, because we are convinced that we provide our horse with idyllic conditions. However, it is good to check whether we are doing everything we can, or maybe there are some things that we might improve. Below, we present you with a few advice on how to prevent your horse from weaving.
1. Provide your horse with possibility of being on a paddock every day, as long as possible.
2. Try to pick such stable that offers spacious stalls, with big windows and possibility of seeing another horses (especially neighbours).
3. Pick a stall closest to the stable's entrance or exit so that the horse can see from his stall what is happening outside.
4. Try to take care of the horse's diet, administering a lot (and frequently) of voluminous fodder, and significantly less meaty fodder (depending on the horse's job).
source: madeira.org
Unfortunately, even horses that have a lot of freedom, spending a lot of time on pastures, horses that should not complain about lack of company and boredom - weave. They are not mentally resistant enough, and stable remains a symbol of captivity for them.
Walking in stall
A certain kind of weaving is another addiction, which shows as a constant, nervous walking in the stall. Horses by doing so try to get rid of energy excess and just as with weaving, they try to kill boredom. Unfortunately, it is very harmful to their locomotor system. Additionally, the horse that constantly prowls around his stall will never become the stableman's favourite, because he would constantly stir the litter and cause the need of its change.
Walking in stall concerns mainly wild cats in the zoos. Who has not seen a tiger, lion, or panther that anxiously and pointlessly prowls around the cage? Those wild animals endure the same thing our horses do - they are not capable of adjusting to the "civilised" conditions, being completely opposite to their nature.
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background source: valestables.com
English stable, source: theequestriancorner.com
background source: imgarcade.com
source: madeira.org
