Understanding stereotypic behaviors in horses including crib-biting, weaving, and box-walking, and the management approaches that prevent and address them.
Horse stereotypies are behavioral scars of inadequate management — once established they persist even when conditions improve, because they have become self-reinforcing through neurological changes. The welfare significance is twofold: the stereotypy indicates current or historical welfare compromise, and the persistent expression reflects ongoing behavioral frustration. Prevention is far more achievable than treatment: adequate forage provision, social contact, exercise, and species-appropriate management from young age dramatically reduces stereotypy development. Mechanical prevention devices like anti-crib collars suppress expression without improving welfare and should be viewed as welfare-negative management tools.