how much of a problem is weaving?

[Erika]

I recently bought a 6 yr. old TB mare, who has sat in a field for the past 4 years. She was trained to race, but never made it past the time trials, as she was too slow! Now, that i've moved her from a huge field to a smaller paddock, she has begun to weave. She only seems to do it when she is nervous, though, or if someone is in her paddock. Will weaving prove to be a very bad habit?

[Sarah]

Hello!

In Britain weaving is considered to be a vice - meaning that it must be declared when selling the horse and can reduce the value of the horse. It can cause trouble for the horse through stressing its shoulders and legs. As you mentioned, weaving is often caused by stress - is it possible to put your horse back out into a big field? The weaving process apparently releases endorphins which are the bodies natural calming drugs so it can become a very set habit in horses.

To prevent it (or stop it when the horse has started to weave) is a difficult process. You can try to prevent your horse being stressed - see if she can change fields or try slowly introducing a field companion - be it another horse, donkey, sheep, goat, whatever (remembering that you will have to care for the companion animal too and its upkeep). If you can try to intorduce something for her to play with an keep her occupied, this can also help - some horses like playing football for instance. Perhaps getting a field lick might help too.

Good luck, and don't expect any rapid progress.

bye!