Stereotypic behaviours like crib-biting, weaving, and box-walking are common in stabled horses and signal chronic welfare problems rooted in management and environment rather than individual pathology.
Stereotypic behaviours in horses are welfare indicators, not causes — they represent the animal attempting to cope with an inadequate environment. Punishing stereotypies with collars or devices that prevent the behaviour increases underlying stress without addressing its source. The welfare-preferred approach is to identify and address environmental deficiencies: provide turnout, social contact, ad-lib forage, and environmental complexity. Horses with established stereotypies may continue them even in improved conditions, but welfare is enhanced regardless because underlying stress is reduced.