Can a horse unlearn a stable vice?

Stable vices arise from stress. A stressed horse will exhibit stereotypic behavior more often than a horse that is comfortable in its own skin. Behaviors such as weaving and crib biting are soothing and addictive for a horse. But as an owner, if your horse has a stable vice, you naturally want your horse to stop this behavior. Unlearning is actually not possible, due to the addictive nature of these behaviors. What can you do instead? Address the underlying reasons for the stress.

A stable vice, also known as 'stereotypic behavior', occurs when a horse experiences stress, often for an extended period of time. Performing repetitive behavior, such as crib biting, helps the horse release a bit of the 'happiness hormone' endorphin into its bloodstream. This makes the horse feel better and endorphin also has a numbing and calming effect. Unfortunately, this substance is also addictive. A horse will therefore be inclined to engage in this behavior repeatedly. Crib biting, weaving, box walking, head shaking, and teeth grinding are all forms of stable vices.

Symptom management

If you want to prevent your horse from exhibiting stereotypic behavior, you need to try to determine the cause. By identifying the root cause of the development of stable vices, you may be able to eliminate it. There are also products available that can prevent the horse from performing the stable vice, such as a cribbing collar or a weaving grate. However, using these products does not solve the problem. It may even lead to horses becoming more frustrated and stressed...

Address the causes

Stable vices arise from stress. Therefore, to reduce stable vices, you need to address the stress. The stress that leads to stable vices is often linked to spending too many hours alone in a stall each day. The name 'stable vice' isn't for nothing. Lack of social contact and free movement often cause the stress that eventually leads to stereotypic behavior.

Causes of stable vices can include:

• Lack of social contact,
• Insufficient free movement,
• Poor quality or insufficient roughage,
• Stomach pain, muscle pain, or other types of pain,
• Boredom,
• Other stress factors such as sleep deprivation, movement issues, and improper training.

By addressing these causes, you are addressing the stress. This will reduce the horse's need to engage in stereotypic behavior to numb itself.

Research proves it

Several studies have been conducted on the amount of stress hormone present in the feces or blood of horses housed in different ways. It was found that horses that have social contact and free movement produce less stress hormone. These horses are also easier to train, respond more positively to their trainer or caregiver, and exhibit fewer stable vices.

Better management = less stress = fewer stable vices

Roughage

Horses should always receive enough high-quality roughage. They should not be left with an empty stomach for too long. Since horses continuously produce gastric juices, an empty stomach can lead to ulcers, pain, and stress. Unpackaged high-quality hay is the most suitable for horses, available unlimitedly or at least in several portions per day. Sufficient fiber-rich roughage ensures that horses chew a lot, which is not only good for digestion but also for the mental well-being of your horse. Horses naturally graze for 16 hours a day. Chewing is a form of natural behavior, and being able to perform that behavior leads to a happier, less stressed horse. Therefore, slow feeders, hay nets, or toys like hay balls can also help reduce or prevent stereotypic behavior.

Free movement and social contact

Contact with conspecifics and being able to move freely are crucial for maintaining a horse's mental health. Free movement is good for muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints, but also to prevent and alleviate stress. Nuzzling and grooming with other horses are essential for the mental health of horses. They are social animals after all! Did you know that when horses groom each other on the withers, it also reduces stress? Moreover, in the herd, horses confirm their bond with each other.

Supplements

If you have your horse's daily management in order, with enough free movement, good roughage, and social contact with other horses, you should see fewer stable vices. But if, for whatever reason, your horse cannot be in the herd or is on stall rest, supplements may be necessary to suppress stress. The mineral magnesium helps reduce stress and also ensures smoother muscles and a healthy nervous system. Horses often have a magnesium deficiency because this mineral is present in low concentrations in our hay. You should feed magnesium in the form of an 'organic compound' such as magnesium chelate. A liquid supplement is more easily absorbed than a powder. If your horse has enough magnesium in its diet but is still a bit stressed, you can also opt for an herbal supplement for stress. This can be given briefly before a stressful event such as a competition or a treatment by the veterinarian. But you can also use such an extract in a lower dosage for a longer period, such as when your horse is on stall rest. A combination of chasteberry, chamomile, and passionflower provides good results and is also free of doping.

Read more about the different stable vices here

Read more about managing stress in horses here

Sources:

Kelly Yarnell, Carol Hall, Chris Royle, Susan L. Walker. Domesticated horses differ in their behavioural and physiological responses to isolated and group housing. Physiology & Behavior, Volume 143, 2015, Pages 51-57, ISSN 0031-9384,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.02.040.