Less Common
Rare
You also might be observing
Observation
What you see. The starting point for addressing any equine health related issue is your observation.
YOU ARE OBSERVING
Circling, Pacing or Weaving in Stall
Summary
In this observation, I am referring to rapid circling in a stall, which is often a short-term reaction to anxiety caused by recent separation and confinement.
Pacing or weaving is often short-lived, a reaction to anxiety associated with change in management or a new stimulus, but it can also be a stereotypical (or habitual) behavior common in horses that spend much of their lives in stalls. A horse will also circle and may pace in a stall when it is in abdominal pain (colic) and rarely when it is affected by certain brain disorders.
Pacing or weaving is often short-lived, a reaction to anxiety associated with change in management or a new stimulus, but it can also be a stereotypical (or habitual) behavior common in horses that spend much of their lives in stalls. A horse will also circle and may pace in a stall when it is in abdominal pain (colic) and rarely when it is affected by certain brain disorders.
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Code Red
Call Your Vet Immediately, Even Outside Business Hours- If you notice signs of colic, along with this sign.
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Code Yellow
Contact Your Vet at Your Convenience for an Appointment- If the horse's appetite and attitude are normal and you see nothing else wrong.
- If the results of the Whole Horse Exam (WHE) suggest the horse is otherwise normal.
your role
What To Do
Try to differentiate between this behavior as a stall vice and as a sign of an underlying physical problem. Assess your horse's general health using the Whole Horse Exam (WHE), and always look for signs of abdominal pain. Assess appetite by offering a small amount of feed.If you believe this is a stall vice, you can try to solve this problem with improvements or changes in management. Provide long-stem grass hay in larger quantities. Provide consistent exercise, and maximize turnout or contact with other horses. Your vet can advise you. If you are concerned that circling behavior is a sign of underlying abdominal pain or other disease, the best course is to contact your vet immediately.
Skills you may need
Procedures that you may need to perform on your horse.
your vet's role
Calming medications and herbs (without an understanding of the cause) are a poor substitute for veterinary assessment and management changes. If used, they should be used under veterinary guidance. Your vet will assess the behavior in the context of overall health and management and help you come up with a plan of action.
Questions Your Vet Might Ask:
- When did you first notice this?
- How is the horse stabled or managed?
- How long has the horse been stabled this way?
- What do you do with the horse?
- What is the horse's exercise regimen?
- Are you seeing other signs of abdominal pain (colic)?
- What are the results of the Whole Horse Exam (WHE)?
- What changes in management have you tried so far?
- How is your horse's health otherwise?
Diagnostics Your Vet May Perform
Figuring out the cause of the problem. These are tests or procedures used by your vet to determine what’s wrong.
Diagnoses Your Vet May Consider
The cause of the problem. These are conditions or ailments that are the cause of the observations you make.
Very Common
Less Common
Rare
Treatments Your Vet May Recommend
A way to resolve the condition or diagnosis. Resolving the underlying cause or treating the signs of disease (symptomatic treatment)
