Stable vices in horses

Many horses struggle with being stabled or develop stereotypical behaviors for other reasons. Lack of social contact, boredom, being kept indoors, or pain can all be reasons for developing stable vices. Scraping or kicking against a door is also a stable vice, but the most well-known ones are box walking, weaving, crib-biting, and wind sucking.

How do stable vices develop?

A stable vice (stereotypical behavior) is a behavior that the horse has taught itself. These behaviors serve no purpose, but the horse performs them as a way to compensate for missing normal behavior. Inadequate nutrition, lack of social contact, or lack of free movement are the most common reasons for horses to develop stable vices.

By performing these addictive movements/behaviors, endorphins are released in the brain. This substance has a calming and numbing effect and gives the horse a sense of euphoria. When a horse develops a stable vice, it starts out as a conscious choice but later becomes a habit and addiction due to the pleasant feeling the horse gets from the endorphins. Endorphins do not stay active for long, so horses must engage in the behavior more and more to achieve the same rush. Eventually, there may be no trigger needed for the horse to exhibit the stereotypical behavior.

What are stable vices?

Abnormal behaviors are particularly visible around feeding time. Kicking against the stall door and scraping, as well as pacing restlessly back and forth in the stall, are common signs. Stable vices are not confined to the stable alone and can also occur in the paddock or pasture.

• Box walking: Horses pace back and forth in the field/paddock, often in a fixed spot along the fence. In the stall, they may walk in circles in a repetitive pattern. In severe cases, a horse may not even stop to eat or drink and may become drenched in sweat. Box walking is very stressful for the joints, tendons, and hooves and can cause lameness.

• Weaving: Alternately shifting weight from one leg to the other is called weaving. The horse repeatedly shifts its weight from one leg to the other in a fixed pattern. Often, horses do this in a fixed spot in the field or in the stall. Weaving causes excessive wear on joints and hooves. Weaving spots are often recognizable in the field by the creation of holes.

• Wind sucking/Crib-biting: Wind sucking involves horses holding their head in a specific position and sucking in air. Crib-biting is similar to wind sucking, but involves grabbing a hard object with the teeth. Horses that wind suck are more susceptible to gastric ulcers and colic. Additionally, the teeth can be damaged by crib-biting.

Can stable vices be unlearned?

Yes, stable vices can be unlearned, but it is not easy. The cause of the development of the stable vice must be identified. There are products available to prevent horses from engaging in stable vices (anti-cribbing collar, weaving bar, muzzle, etc), but this does not solve the problem and can even further frustrate the horse. Horses with stable vices often benefit from being turned out with companions, provided with unlimited roughage, and possibly given toys for entertainment.

A stable vice should be disclosed when selling the horse.