318:
approximately 2 hours that they spent sleeping. Modern equine husbandry sometimes creates conflicts with the horse’s natural behaviors; some owners keep their horses confined to a stall with minimal turnout time, little to no social interactions, and sometimes inadequate amounts of roughage. This can be problematic as this system of equine husbandry completely ignores certain basic needs, such as social interactions, foraging, and locomotion. Studies have shown that horses that are offered low quantities of forage and minimal social contact have a higher reported level of stereotypic behaviors such as
326:, and other stereotypic behaviors. Social interactions are important to horses; mutual grooming has been shown to reduce heart rate and cortisol levels, therefore reducing stress. Play behavior between two horses aids in the development of the musculo-skeletal system and cardiovascular fitness; play allows practice of reproductive and survival skills. Living in a group also has an adaptive significance, as younger animals living within the herd will learn from the other members of the group.
334:. Behavioral problems can also develop because the horse is in pain from the ulcers that are a result of the low quantities of forage. The process of chewing produces saliva, which the horse uses as a natural antacid; if the horse has no hay or pasture to chew on, the antacid will not be produced and the horse will find anything to chew on to try and produce saliva, which can be the start of an oral stereotype.
343:
food (so the animal spends more time eating and less time being bored), feeding more frequently, or cutting back on grain or other high-energy concentrates. Toys such as a ball or empty one-gallon plastic milk jug can be hung in the stall. Sometimes simply giving the animal a companion in the next stall, or even a smaller animal placed in the same stall, also helps a bored or nervous horse.
25:
122:
308:
Other equine behaviors that may (or may not) arise from boredom or frustration, but still present management challenges. These include destruction of buckets, mangers, and feed tubs; defecation in the manger or water bucket; dumping water buckets; sloshing feed in water and then scattering it on the
329:
The amount of forage a horse is given or has access to is extremely important as the equine digestive tract continuously produces acid, therefore the horse’s digestive tract must contain food most of time; if a horse is without forage for more than 3 hours, the acid in the digestive tract will build
342:
In most cases, reducing confinement and providing the animal a more natural setting reduces the incidence of stable vices. There are stopgap "cures" that can be provided in the stall to keep a horse busy or out of trouble, including increased exercise, feeding of larger quantities of lower-quality
224:
Wall kicking: Kicking the walls of its stall with hind legs. This raises the potential of injury to the equine and damage to the barn. Usually this is caused by a lack of exercise and boredom. Wall-kicking is one habit that is often acquired by others in the barn once an individual starts doing
317:
Horses are extremely social creatures, and the process of domestication has not altered their need for social interactions. Also, in the wild, horses are constantly grazing; they are called trickle feeders because they continuously eat small amounts of forage throughout the day, except the
217:: Rocking back and forth in a repetitive fashion that is correlated to isolation or stall confinement, usually alleviated by pasture turnout. Possibly a self-stimulating behavior. Problems with weaving can include weight loss and uneven hoof wear, unnatural stress on the legs and
241:
Biting: A nervous or anxious equine may reach out of its stall to bite at passersby, humans or animals. Box stall designs that keep the horse from reaching its head out prevent harm to other animals, but some horses may attempt to bite a handler when the person enters the
171:
It was once thought that stable vices may be learned by observing other horses already performing the behaviors, but studies on the topic to date have failed to establish this as a cause. Stereotypies are correlated with altered behavioral response selection in the
282:
Horses may engage in a number of undesirable behaviors when being ridden or driven. These are not "stable" vices, but are often classified as "vices" in terms of being behavior that poses a danger to the animal or its handler. These include:
232:
Pawing or digging: The equine may paw with its front feet. This can lead to abnormal hoof wear and lameness, and may also damage the flooring of the stall. An equine that paws can dig a noticeable hole in a dirt-floored barn in a very short
228:
Stall-walking or fence-walking: Like weaving, this is a repetitive movement, only the individual paces compulsively. It is usually correlated with isolation or anxiety while awaiting feed. This habit can also lead to weight loss and
206:
in the horse, but recent research suggests this is a fallacy. Additional research suggests that cribbing increases salivation and may reduce stomach discomfort. There is a direct correlation between diet and cribbing; increasing
350:
concerns, and the animal will resume its behavior as soon as the restraint is removed. The long-term solution that has the most success is to give the horse less time in the stall and more free turnout time.
163:
Stereotypical behaviors in animals are generally thought to be caused by artificial environments that do not allow animals to satisfy their normal behavioral needs. Rather than refer to these behaviors as
634:
Lebelt, D.; Zanella, A.J.; Unshelm, J. (1998). "Physiological correlates associated with cribbing behaviour in horses: changes in thermal threshold, heart rate, plasma β‐endorphin and serotonin".
287:
Head-shaking: Where a horse shakes its head repeatedly for no obvious reason, a condition with many possible causes from insect annoyance, dental problems, allergies, sun exposure or nerve damage.
176:. Although a more enriched environment may help minimize or eliminate some stereotypical behavior, once established, it is sometimes impossible to eliminate them due to alterations in the brain.
156:
issue, not only leading to facility damage from chewing, kicking, and repetitive motion, but also leading to health consequences for the animal if not addressed. They also raise
278:
against his belly. Previously believed to be a vice caused by boredom, confinement, or discomfort, masturbation by stallions and geldings is now viewed as a normal behavior.
460:
198:, also called windsucking: When the equine grabs a board or other surface with its teeth, arches its neck, and sucks in air. This can harm the teeth and may lead to
263:
346:
In extreme cases, a short term fix may include various forms of restraint. However, none of these practices solve the underlying problem, some may raise
671:
309:
ground, and so on. There is little that can be done to stop them, and other than hygienic considerations, they present few health or safety concerns.
396:
852:
370:
165:
821:
698:
826:
Mills, Daniel. "Recent
Advances in the Treatment of Equine Stereotypic Behaviour." Havemeyer Foundation. Web site accessed July 27, 2007 at
503:
Garner JP, Mason GJ (2002). "Evidence for a relationship between cage stereotypes and behavioural disinhibition in laboratory rodents".
813:
725:
108:
786:
Feh, C., and
Mazieres, J., 1993. Grooming at a preferred site reduces heart rate in horses. Animal Behaviours, 46(6), 1191-1194.
211:
in the ration or feeding more frequent meals appears to help. Cribbing occurs in 2.4–8.3% depending on breed and management.
46:
89:
42:
61:
572:
237:
Some behaviors are not classed as stereotypes, but are viewed as undesirable behaviors for health or safety reasons:
184:
Stereotypies in equines are usually placed into one of two classes: Locomotor or Oral. Common stable vices include:
68:
35:
867:
768:
Getty, J., 2009. Feed Your Horse Like a Horse: Optimize your horse's nutrition for a lifetime of vibrant health.
192:): Gnawing on wood out of hunger or boredom. This is not to be confused with the more serious vice, cribbing.
75:
862:
668:
133:
827:
57:
454:
407:
248:: Eating food too fast without adequate chewing. This can potentially lead to certain problems in the
299:: a normal behavior at play, but dangerous around humans, when it is often triggered by fear or pain.
125:
Placing horses on pasture and the presence of companion animals may both help to reduce stable vices.
609:
168:, it has been suggested that they be described as "behavior indicative of an abnormal environment".
149:
538:
202:. Cribbing can be caused either by nervousness or boredom. It was previously thought to release
857:
817:
809:
721:
715:
694:
651:
530:
218:
777:
Nicol, C., 1999. Understanding equine stereotypies. Equine
Veterinary Journal, 31(28), 20-25.
643:
520:
512:
319:
267:
195:
144:. They are usually undesirable habits that often develop as a result of being confined in a
675:
323:
302:
296:
245:
214:
82:
687:
Angus O. McKinnon; Edward L. Squires; Wendy E. Vaala; Dickson D. Varner (5 July 2011).
647:
365:
347:
249:
157:
516:
478:
846:
253:
173:
832:
736:
a vice; it is best regarded as normal sexual behavior and should not be discouraged.
542:
428:
375:
688:
331:
275:
257:
199:
189:
24:
360:
153:
714:
Derek C. Knottenbelt; Reg R. Pascoe; Michelle LeBlanc; Cheryl Lopate (2003).
203:
655:
534:
798:
Interstate
Printers & Publishers; 4th edition (1969). ASIN: B0006BVLOM
754:
Dierendonck, M., 2006. The
Importance of Social Relationships in Horses.
290:
271:
828:
http://www3.vet.upenn.edu/labs/equinebehavior//hvnwkshp/hv02/mills.htm
525:
121:
145:
137:
141:
120:
208:
18:
406:. Regents of the University of Minnesota. Archived from
274:, will use his abdominal muscles to rhythmically bounce
16:
Undesirable behaviors in horses resulting from captivity
330:
up which can cause ulcers, diarrhea, and potentially
422:
420:
148:with boredom, hunger, isolation, excess energy, or
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
427:Davis E, Down N, Garner J; et al. (2004).
293:: May be misbehavior or a result of discomfort.
833:Ryder, Erin. "Hoofing it with John Henry,"
8:
459:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
429:"Stereotypical behavior: a LAREF discussion"
313:Modern husbandry and the effects on behavior
720:. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 107.
603:
601:
599:
597:
595:
593:
524:
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
387:
472:
470:
452:
371:List of abnormal behaviours in animals
764:
762:
760:
750:
748:
746:
744:
717:Equine Stud Farm Medicine and Surgery
608:Overton, Rebecca (11 February 2013).
566:
564:
562:
560:
558:
556:
554:
552:
7:
47:adding citations to reliable sources
648:10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb05140.x
483:Texas Veterinary Behavior Services
14:
839:Web page accessed August 25, 2007
808:Fireside; Rev Upd edition (1998)
577:University of Minnesota Extension
573:"Horse behavior and stable vices"
404:University of Minnesota Extension
397:"Horse Behavior and Stable Vices"
23:
34:needs additional citations for
1:
853:Abnormal behaviour in animals
610:"Stable Vice or Stereotypie?"
517:10.1016/S0166-4328(02)00111-0
669:Study on horse masturbation
884:
674:November 27, 2006, at the
479:""Stable Vices" in Horses"
266:: A male horse, either a
693:. John Wiley & Sons.
636:Equine Veterinary Journal
806:The Whole Horse Catalog.
796:Horses and Horsemanship.
395:Christie, Julie (2008).
303:Bolting or running away
794:Ensminger, M. Eugene.
126:
150:insufficient exercise
124:
43:improve this article
801:Price, Stephen D.,
690:Equine Reproduction
127:
837:, online edition.
822:978-0-684-83995-0
700:978-0-470-96187-2
571:Christie, Julie.
436:Lab Primate Newsl
413:on June 14, 2010.
152:. They present a
119:
118:
111:
93:
875:
868:Horse management
787:
784:
778:
775:
769:
766:
755:
752:
739:
738:
732:Masturbation is
711:
705:
704:
684:
678:
666:
660:
659:
631:
625:
624:
622:
620:
605:
588:
587:
585:
583:
568:
547:
546:
528:
500:
494:
493:
491:
489:
474:
465:
464:
458:
450:
448:
447:
433:
424:
415:
414:
412:
401:
392:
322:, wind sucking,
250:digestive system
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
51:
27:
19:
883:
882:
878:
877:
876:
874:
873:
872:
843:
842:
791:
790:
785:
781:
776:
772:
767:
758:
753:
742:
728:
713:
712:
708:
701:
686:
685:
681:
676:Wayback Machine
667:
663:
633:
632:
628:
618:
616:
614:Horse and Rider
607:
606:
591:
581:
579:
570:
569:
550:
505:Behav Brain Res
502:
501:
497:
487:
485:
476:
475:
468:
451:
445:
443:
431:
426:
425:
418:
410:
399:
394:
393:
389:
384:
357:
340:
315:
182:
115:
104:
98:
95:
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
881:
879:
871:
870:
865:
863:Horse behavior
860:
855:
845:
844:
841:
840:
830:
824:
799:
789:
788:
779:
770:
756:
740:
726:
706:
699:
679:
661:
626:
589:
548:
495:
466:
416:
386:
385:
383:
380:
379:
378:
373:
368:
366:Horse behavior
363:
356:
353:
348:animal welfare
339:
336:
314:
311:
306:
305:
300:
294:
288:
280:
279:
261:
243:
235:
234:
230:
226:
222:
212:
193:
188:Wood chewing (
181:
178:
158:animal welfare
117:
116:
58:"Stable vices"
31:
29:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
880:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
856:
854:
851:
850:
848:
838:
836:
831:
829:
825:
823:
819:
815:
814:0-684-83995-4
811:
807:
804:
800:
797:
793:
792:
783:
780:
774:
771:
765:
763:
761:
757:
751:
749:
747:
745:
741:
737:
735:
729:
727:0-7020-2130-X
723:
719:
718:
710:
707:
702:
696:
692:
691:
683:
680:
677:
673:
670:
665:
662:
657:
653:
649:
645:
642:(27): 21–27.
641:
637:
630:
627:
615:
611:
604:
602:
600:
598:
596:
594:
590:
578:
574:
567:
565:
563:
561:
559:
557:
555:
553:
549:
544:
540:
536:
532:
527:
522:
518:
514:
510:
506:
499:
496:
484:
480:
473:
471:
467:
462:
456:
441:
437:
430:
423:
421:
417:
409:
405:
398:
391:
388:
381:
377:
374:
372:
369:
367:
364:
362:
359:
358:
354:
352:
349:
344:
337:
335:
333:
327:
325:
321:
312:
310:
304:
301:
298:
295:
292:
289:
286:
285:
284:
277:
273:
269:
265:
262:
259:
255:
251:
247:
244:
240:
239:
238:
231:
227:
223:
220:
216:
213:
210:
205:
201:
197:
194:
191:
187:
186:
185:
179:
177:
175:
174:basal ganglia
169:
167:
161:
159:
155:
151:
147:
143:
140:, especially
139:
135:
131:
123:
113:
110:
102:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
834:
805:
802:
795:
782:
773:
733:
731:
716:
709:
689:
682:
664:
639:
635:
629:
617:. Retrieved
613:
580:. Retrieved
576:
511:(1): 83–92.
508:
504:
498:
486:. Retrieved
482:
477:Haug, Lore.
455:cite journal
444:. Retrieved
439:
435:
408:the original
403:
390:
376:Horse tongue
345:
341:
328:
316:
307:
281:
264:Masturbation
246:Bolting feed
236:
183:
170:
162:
134:stereotypies
130:Stable vices
129:
128:
105:
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
190:lignophagia
847:Categories
619:4 November
582:4 November
526:10214/4711
488:4 November
446:2009-12-21
382:References
361:Horse care
252:including
204:endorphins
160:concerns.
154:management
69:newspapers
835:The Horse
338:Solutions
276:his penis
229:lameness.
858:Ethology
672:Archived
656:10484999
543:12731260
535:12385793
442:(4): 3–4
355:See also
320:cribbing
268:stallion
219:lameness
196:Cribbing
180:Examples
166:abnormal
99:May 2011
324:weaving
297:Rearing
291:Bucking
272:gelding
215:Weaving
138:equines
83:scholar
820:
812:
803:et al.
724:
697:
654:
541:
533:
242:stall.
146:stable
142:horses
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
539:S2CID
432:(PDF)
411:(PDF)
400:(PDF)
332:colic
270:or a
258:colic
254:choke
233:time.
200:colic
90:JSTOR
76:books
818:ISBN
810:ISBN
722:ISBN
695:ISBN
652:PMID
621:2016
584:2016
531:PMID
490:2016
461:link
256:and
132:are
62:news
734:not
644:doi
521:hdl
513:doi
509:136
225:it.
209:hay
136:of
45:by
849::
816:,
759:^
743:^
730:.
650:.
640:30
638:.
612:.
592:^
575:.
551:^
537:.
529:.
519:.
507:.
481:.
469:^
457:}}
453:{{
440:34
438:.
434:.
419:^
402:.
703:.
658:.
646::
623:.
586:.
545:.
523::
515::
492:.
463:)
449:.
260:.
221:.
112:)
106:(
101:)
97:(
87:·
80:·
73:·
66:·
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.