My mare who I've had for 8 years just started weaving! No one else in the barn weaves, that I know of. And she's not doing it a lot...she does a slight sway on crossties. It's making me crazy! Does anyone have experience with weavers or do you think there's something else up with her? I notice no other neurological issues, no changes in soundness or behavior. She's still really sweet. Is it possible she was always a weaver to some degree and it's just becoming more obvious now because of something? I've never had a weaver before and it was a shock to see her start doing this after several years. She's been in the same barn for 4 years, and the only change is that the horse next to her left and a new one is there (but she likes him too). Her turnout paddock is the same. The horses next to her paddock are the same. It's very weird.

One horse I new that "swayed" in the gross ties was doing because he went into training with another trainer and she wrenched him trying to teach him a lesson.. I will stop there.

Any hoo.. it happened to be a nerve pinched in the neck. After a chiropratic adjustment.. didn't do it again.

Now it was only because of the elevated ties in the cross ties that pinched the nerve. when he was in the stall no worries.

Hope that helps..

My horse is off the track and when she's really stressed and I'm not standing close by, she starts to weave. She's not one of those anxious high strung thoroughbreds but she is very very sensitive. Things like high winds or a storm front coming in or another horse getting loose and running around the farm or the pigs screaming when the vet vaccinates them will cause her to weave ever so slightly in cross ties. If she's in her stall, I thinkshe feels safe and typically doesn't weave. I also give her massages often because she does have back problems since she's so long backed. I probably should have her adjusted by the chiropractor too, but at $160 for 20 minutes...it's a bit hard on the wallet. A pinched nerve sounds like a good possiblity in the other horse's case. I'd hate to think how hard a wrench that trainer did to that poor horse to cause such a result.

Horses start weaving when they are bored, anxious, or nervous. Does your mare get out every day? If so, for how long? Is she lunged, or rode, or worked regularly, or is she just turned out? I would increase the time I ride or lunge her as well as put a couple of toys in her stalls, also if you can add a hay net that should help too.

How is that mare dorain haven't seen any replies by you.. just wanted to check to see if you had any input on how she is doing.

Many people believe that weaving is caused by boredom, but while this theory comes close to hitting the mark it does miss it slightly. Boredom itself hasn't been shown to cause weaving, but anxiety and high levels of stress have, particularly as they relate to two specific subjects:
-A general unhappiness with the atmosphere and/or lack of grazing
-Isolation and a lack of companionship.

The most common cause of stall walking and horse weaving comes with separation anxiety. Horses are herd animals and therefore they can become very unhappy if they are isolated from all forms of companionship. Studies have shown that surrounding a horse with others, even if each are in individual stalls, is usually enough to keep walking and weaving at bay. You will know your horse is having separation anxiety if he neighs loudly as he circles or weaves; this neighing is a cry out to other horses.

We had a few racehorses that weave severly and they are stalled next to eachother, some even have a small hole in the wall, so they can touch noses. You would basicly have to try various things and see what gets your horse to stop.