[The “weaving” of horses].

This research study provides an in-depth analysis of the behavioural pattern referred to as “weaving” in horses. This nervous habit, typically resulting from stressful situations, has been examined through observations of a group of 27 horses varying in age and breed.

Study Outline

• The study involved 27 horses of varying breeds, ages, and genders. These horses, aged between 3 and 22 years, all demonstrated evidence of weaving behaviour. ‘Weaving’ is a term that refers to a specific type of repetitive head movement displayed by some horses.
• The research included several days of individual observations of these horses in their customary environments. This approach ensured that the horses’ weaving behaviour could be studied in familiar settings and conditions.

Understanding Weaving Behaviour

• The researchers defined a ‘weaving phase’ as a span in which a horse does not pause for longer than ten minutes. Pauses shorter than this duration were interpreted as subdivisions of the weaving phase and were termed ‘weaving series’.
• The primary unit of weaving, known as the ‘weaving displacement’, is the head movement between the points where the horse changes direction.
• The number of daily weaving displacements observed in the studied horses ranged from fewer than 400 to almost 18,000. On average, a horse spent 67 minutes each day weaving.
• Weaving is assumed to be provoked by highly stressful circumstances and was mainly triggered by specific environmental stimuli in the horses studied.

Impact and Implications

• It is highly unlikely for a horse to start weaving by mimicking another horse. Horses that showed strong weaving behaviour did not necessarily respond more quickly to stimuli, but their reaction lasted longer.
• Attempts to treat or control weaving behaviour seem to be effective only to a certain extent. It was found that weaving had minimal or no noticeable impact on the overall health condition of the horses, however, it might be an indication of chronic stress, which has several potential adverse effects on the horses’ health and performance.