I love vaulting. It is such a beautiful sport. One of the hardest sports I think a human can do. I also think it is one of the kindest equestrian disciplines for the horse. FINALLY one in which the human is working harder than the horse. Its about time.
This is an example of a horse that is weaving. This horse also paws at the air in frustration as well as banging the side walls with his hooves sometimes too. Horses naturally move for many hours a day eating as they walk. To stand idle in a stall can be extremely frustrating to a lot of horses. Especially high strung breeds.
This can be helped by both getting the horse into a larger paddock situation and by creating some type of social situation for the horse that involves exercise. This does not mean with a rider. The feeling of cabin fever the horse is experiencing inside can be somewhat alleviated by massage as well. The way most of us have experienced horses is a very unnatural environment for them. All you really have to do to know what the horse feels like is to imagine yourself in that environment. While also taking into consideration their size to space ratio. A 12x12 stall is a bit like us living in a porta-potty. Please note though that for some horses that have always lived in very small spaces being put in a very large space can be initially overwhelming and anxiety producing. The change may need to happen gradually depending on the individual temperament of the horse. The name of the game with horses or really anything is to be present, observe, and see what the horse or situation is telling you. Adjust according to what is happening that day, hour, or moment.
