Crib-Biting in Horses: Welfare and Management of Oral Stereotypies 2026

Crib-biting and weaving are stereotypic behaviours in horses that signal chronic stress and welfare problems in their management history.

Key Facts

Crib-biting involves the horse grasping a fixed object with its teeth and arching its neck to inhale air
Around 4-5% of stabled horses develop crib-biting, with higher rates in horses with restricted forage access
Stereotypies are considered indicators of poor welfare - they develop in response to chronic environmental stress
Once established, stereotypies persist even when management improves - they cannot be unlearned
Anti-crib collars prevent the behaviour but do not address the underlying welfare deficit and may increase frustration

Welfare Considerations

Crib-biting welfare has two components: the historical welfare deficit that led to development of the stereotypy, and the ongoing management of established behaviour. Horses that crib-bite typically developed the behaviour in response to gastric pain from intermittent feeding, insufficient forage, or social isolation. The development of a stereotypy signals that the horse's behavioural needs were chronically unmet. Once established, preventing the physical behaviour (through collars or surgery) causes additional stress without addressing welfare needs. Management approaches that optimise forage access, social contact, and exercise reduce the motivation to perform the stereotypy without causing additional welfare compromise from physical prevention.

What You Can Do

Provide ad libitum or near-constant forage access to prevent stereotypy development in stabled horses
Avoid anti-crib collars which prevent expression without addressing underlying welfare needs
Optimise management for horses with established stereotypies - more turnout, forage, and social contact
Do not penalise horses that crib-bite - the behaviour is a welfare indicator, not a vice to be punished