Stereotypic behaviors in horses are repetitive, invariant movement patterns that indicate chronic stress and compromised welfare.
Equine stereotypies are welfare red flags that indicate an animal experiencing chronic psychological distress from unmet behavioral needs. The traditional management response — punitive devices like cribbing collars — addresses only the visible symptom while potentially adding further suffering. Evidence-based prevention requires maximizing turnout time, providing social contact with other horses, offering ad libitum forage, and ensuring environmental complexity. Once stereotypies develop, improving the underlying conditions remains important even if the behavior persists. Buyers of horses should be aware that stereotypies disclosed or discovered post-purchase often indicate a history of poor welfare.