Companion Animal Welfare

Horse Stable Boredom and Stereotypy Prevention

Horses confined to stables without adequate social contact and activity develop stereotypic behaviours indicating poor welfare.

Key Facts

Cribbing, weaving, box walking and head nodding are common equine stereotypies
Stereotypies develop in horses lacking adequate social contact, exercise and forage variety
Once established, stereotypies are permanent and indicate past environmental deprivation
Providing hay ad libitum significantly reduces stereotypy development in stabled horses
Social contact through shared walls or companionship reduces isolation-driven stereotypies

Welfare Considerations

Equine stereotypies are a direct indicator of past and ongoing welfare compromise. Their development is preventable through appropriate social contact, exercise, forage and environmental complexity. Once established, they cannot be eliminated - prevention is the only welfare solution.

What You Can Do

Provide ad libitum forage and social contact for stabled horses to prevent stereotypy development
Ensure stabled horses have visual contact with other horses through open stable designs
Maximise turnout time to reduce the proportion of time spent in environmental deprivation