How to Deal With a Horse That has Movement Vices

Movement vices are sort of like nervous twitches. Horses can have movement vices for a variety of reasons; however, they are most commonly caused by excess energy that lacks an outlet. If you notice that your horse has movement vices, such as weaving, pacing, box walking or kicking, a few tips can help to calm your horse's nerves.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Watch your horse carefully and try to pinpoint when and where his movement vices occur. Most commonly, movement vices will occur while your horse is stabled, shortly after release or about an hour after feeding. Often horses will not perform movement vices around other horses or on days that they have been allowed to pasture.
2. Consider changing the way you feed your horse. If you feed your horse a highly concentrated, high energy feed which they eat quickly, it will leave them with energy that needs to be released. Horses that are pasture-fed tend to eat the high-fiber, low-energy grasses slowly throughout the day, helping to keep energy levels constant and managing movement vices. You can continue with the high energy feed, but do it fewer times throughout the day to balance the energy boosts.
3. Lunge your horse directly after release from the stable instead of going directly to saddle up. Lunging your horse can be a great way to bond and train your horse but will also help to work off a little of that pent up energy.
4. Let your horse out to pasture more often so that he can roam freely, run and play. Horses who are stables for long periods of time often have movement vices simply due to the frustration of not having room to run.
5. Allow your horse to interact with other horses as much as possible. Horses are extremely social animals and may become frustrated and exhibit nervous ticks if they are not allowed to socialize.
6. Stable your horse where she can see and hear other horses, a great way to keep them calm and lower the frustration of being stabled. Adding a salt-like and low-nutrient food to the stable, such as oat hay, can also help to keep your horse satisfied and occupied while stabled.