Fence walker

Question
I recently purchased a warmblood cross anglo arab, he is 11
years old. I am very happy with him except that he walks up and
down the boundary fence line. The first week or so, I put it
down to the fact that he might be fretting for his old owner. He
has settled a little, in that he doesn't walk the whole boundary,
now its about 10 metres or so then he turns and goes the other
way, back and forth. I have another another horse, a 18 month
old filly, they are in paddocks next to each other. It is not even
her fence line that he walks up and down; if it was I would be
thinking he was wanting to be with her. The fence line he walks
doesn't face any other horses; it faces empty paddocks and
then bush. Very rarely do I see him relaxing and grazing; its very
frustrating, as well as not good for the paddocks... the furrows
and dust. Can you please help or have any suggestions as to
why and how we can stop this behavior?

Answer
Hi Rhonda;

This is a stereotypie, much like cribbing, stall walking, star gazing and all those other things.

First, you need to ask the previous owner if he did this. That would let you know if this is a new behavior or an old one.  If an old one, that should have been disclosed at the time you inquired about him and you may have grounds to return him.

If it's a new behavior it's likely just stress induced and may disappear on it's own as he becomes more comfortable in his new home.

If it's an old behavior I have to warn you, that you may never be able to resolve it and the reason it started will be next to impossible to discover.  Stereotypies release endorphins into the body and the horse gets a 'high' from the behavior.

I would have him checked for ulcers and food allergies.  

Put a buddy in the paddocked with him.  (Again, ask the previous owner where she kept him and with whom and then try  and copy that arrangement if he didn't fret like he currently is)  Maybe some toys in his paddock would help?

An extreme method would be to hobble train him.

Spending more time with him, or increasing his workload might also help.  Clicker training is extremely interactive and you might be able to clicker train that behavior out of him and replace it with something more acceptable.

Best wishes and good luck!

Sincerely,

Lana Reinhardt