Weaving and Head Bobbing UGH

SO the new OTTB is a weaver AND a head bobber. He picks up his back foot and bobs his head. He weaves while in the round pen. The vet says it is probably just due to the racing training, out of stall then run then go right back in stall, repeat.

He does not weave in his stall but he will head bob. Is there anything you can do to stop it? I got him a jolly ball and a likit for his stall and he has a traffic cone.

He has only been at the stables for 2 weeks now, is it just a matter of waiting it out and see if he stops? I am thinking he weaves in the round pen because he can see his horse buddies from there. Any ideas?

Hi, weaving & head bobbing are 'stereotypic' behaviours that start out as coping mechanisms for horses under a lot of stress. But they are obsessive compulsive behaviours that are often hard or impossible to 'cure' even once the stress is removed. The longer the stress & behaviour have been allowed to go on, the harder it is to 'treat'.

So first & foremost, try to avoid those stressful situations. For his physical health as well as mental, try to find somewhere for him that he doesn't have to be stabled. 24/7 turnout with company should make him much happier & healthier. Also avoid putting him in the round yard, if this is where he's most unhappy. Instead, play & work with him out in the paddock or wherever he's comfortable and develop your relationship there, before then gradually (using approach & retreat) reintroducing him to the round pen.

I agree with loosie. Weaving and head bobbing are displaced behaviors when the horse is under stress. This can be fixed but it's going to take a lot of time.

Could it be possible that he has ulcers? Maybe you should treat him for it. I've used U-Guard powder before and it works great! And it's not that expensive. Right now I'm treating my old blind appy for ulcers but I'm giving him 100% all natural aloe vera juice. I was told that works better than the U-Guard, so we'll see how it works.

I agree with the above ideas for sure! I was watching a video on OTTB and one was a bad weaver and head bobber. He tied a string with like a marble on the end of it to the middle of the halter between her ears so that every time she bobbed her head or weaved, she would have this thing flyin around on her head..its awful but was kinda funny to watch the look on her face. She did quit though. Just a thought. You don't have to make it so long that it hits her in the eyes but just short of it...and just leave it on when she is out and about. Gives them something else to think about.