Stereotypic behaviors in horses such as crib-biting and weaving indicate chronic stress and management failures with significant welfare implications.
Stereotypies are now understood as indicators of compromised welfare rather than bad habits or vices. They emerge from environments that frustrate fundamental behavioral needs: constant movement, social interaction, and prolonged foraging. Once established, the behaviors themselves provide stress relief through endorphin release, making prevention far more effective than cure. Horses with stereotypies often show elevated baseline cortisol, reduced digestive efficiency, and greater susceptibility to gastric ulcers — compounding their welfare burden beyond the behavior itself.