Stereotypic behaviours in horses including crib-biting, weaving and box-walking indicate chronic stress and frustrated natural behaviours - prevention and management require understanding of root causes.
Horse stereotypy welfare is shaped by the understanding that these behaviours, once established, represent permanent neurological changes rather than simply bad habits. The welfare priority is prevention: ensuring foals are not weaned too early, have access to continuous forage, social contact and movement. Attempting to suppress established stereotypies through collars or physical barriers without addressing underlying causes is welfare-negative - it prevents the animal from performing a coping behaviour without addressing the underlying state. Management adjustment to reduce stereotypy frequency is more welfare-positive than suppression. Accepting established stereotypies as permanent and managing for their welfare implications is the most realistic approach.