Why is box weaving common in ex race horses (particually tbs)?

Question

i have been looking at horses to buy for my friend on horsemart.com and all the ex race horses i have looked at box weave, is it common in these horses or is it just a coincidence? and if it is common why is it so? have they been abused or is it just a trait?

i owned a tb ex race horse and she does box walk occasionally so i was also wondering if it is the same thing as box weaving?

thankyou

Answer 1

Basically TBs pick up "weaving", "windsucking" and "pawing" out of boredom.  Think about a kid being trapped in one room for most of the day and fed a LOT of chocolate/caffine.  Same idea.  There they are stuck in a 12' x 12' stall, hyped up on all these energy feeds so they can race, but are only taken out of that little stall for a couple of hours a day.  Not to mention that most of these horses are under 4 years of age to boot and kids are ALWAYS more energetic than adults.

They pick up these habits supposedly by watching other horses with the habit.

Answer 2

I own 36 race horses. Box weaving comes from lack of exercise. Becuase ex-racers get ridden lots and very hard, you all of a sudden stop this and the weave.  All of our retired horses still get ridden everyday so that is not a problem. If you bought a horse like that lots of exercise and PASTURE or TURNOUT will solve the problem instantly.

Good luck!

Answer 3

My horse is a weaver and he is a warmblood. His sire could also weave for England. Anti-weaving bars did no good, he just stood behind them and weaved. I think with him it is a boredom thing and with this in mind he does spend his days in the field. He's also not so bad as long as there are other horses stabled with him. We also have a box walker on the yard and yes, I would say that the two problems can have the same causes. Again, as long as there are other horses near him, the box walker doesn't box walk. In both these cases, I think it has to do with the natural herding instinct and the horses needing to be with their own kind.

Answer 4

It is just a habit.  Race horse stables are usually large and if a horse becomes bored and starts to weave, box walk or crib, and others see it they will all start to do it.

Turning out is the best solution and lots of excersise, and stable toys to keep them occupied when indoors is the answer.  It is not necessarily thoroughbreds.  Little shetlands can be seen doing it too, or childrens ponies!

Answer 5

Race horses are fed a high protein diet with often little turn out, this often leads to excess energy but no space to burn it off,which usually leads to stable vices developing which once they get into the habit of can never disappear even if their routine is changed for the better

Answer 6

Racehorses are incredibly fit, on a very sparse diet, locked up all day,very intelligent and BORED OUT OF THEIR MINDS thats why they box walk and weave. Once they get the habit they never stop. It produces endorphins, euphoric brain chemicals, that make them feel better about their awful situation, and like any drug they still do it even when the cause is removed.

I wouldn't worry. Keep the horse out as much as possible and keep it's indoor life as stress free as possible and otherwise put up with it. Be glad you can rescue one from that awful life.

Answer 7

unfortunately, this and other behavioral problems are common in track horses.   They develop these behaviors because they are not allowed to have a normal "horsey life".  Their lives are cruel and abusive and very abnormal and limited.  They live in a box, no herd relationships, minimal contact with anything not related to making $$.  Everything in their life is about force.  They have broken spirits and lose their dignity because of the way they are treated.  The racing industry is horrible for horses (all racing, not just TB).   This kind of life is not one that any horse would choose, if only they could be given a choice.

Answer 8

Common.

Answer 9

It's a boredom habit, you can buy anti weave bars to put on stable door or alternatively, don't keep them in a box all day every day.

Answer 10

  Race horse are giving high protein diets and stalled for many hours of the day. The trainers want them willing to run when they get turned out. Due to the hours they spend in a stall and the amount of energy they have build up mother nature makes them move to expel the energy caused by the high protein diet.