Companion Animals

Horse Stereotypies: Understanding and Management

Stereotypic behaviors including cribbing, weaving, and box walking are signs of compromised welfare; management addresses causes rather than suppressing symptoms.

Key Facts

Approximately 5-10% of horses develop stereotypies depending on management system
Cribbing (grasping objects and swallowing air) involves opioid release and becomes self-reinforcing
Weaving (swaying side to side) is most common in horses with limited movement opportunities
Stereotypies are rarely seen in horses with 24-hour pasture access and social contact
Once established, stereotypies persist even when management improves - prevention is crucial

Welfare Considerations

Stereotypies are behavioral indicators of compromised welfare - horses develop them in response to environments that fail to meet their behavioral needs. Stall confinement, social isolation, and restricted forage access are the primary drivers. Attempts to prevent stereotypies through physical means (anti-weaving grills, cribbing collars) suppress the behavior without addressing the underlying welfare deficit and may increase frustration.

What You Can Do

Provide maximum possible turnout time with social equine contact to prevent stereotype development
Feed ad-lib forage to replace the 16 hours of grazing natural to horses
Never use physical devices to suppress stereotypies - address the underlying management deficits
If acquiring a horse with established stereotypies, do not blame them - address the management that caused it