Cribbing Weaving and Stall Vices has gotten complicated with all the vice prevention products flying around. As someone who has owned a cribber for eight years and tried every solution on the market, I learned everything there is to know about stall vices in horses. Today, I will share it all with you.
What Are Stereotypies?
Stereotypies are repetitive, seemingly purposeless behaviors that horses perform in consistent patterns. Unlike play or normal activity, stereotypies follow rigid sequences and appear compulsive.
According to the Applied Animal Behaviour Science journal, stereotypies develop when animals cannot perform natural behaviors in their environment. They’re considered indicators of compromised welfare, though managing them in established cases is complex.
Common Stereotypic Behaviors
Cribbing (Crib-Biting)
The horse grasps a solid object (fence, stall door, bucket) with its incisors, arches its neck, and gulps air while making a characteristic grunting sound.
Characteristics:
- Often begins in young horses
- Once established, very difficult to eliminate
- Can cause dental wear and colic concerns (though the colic link is debated)
- Releases endorphins, making it self-reinforcing
Wind-Sucking
Similar to cribbing but the horse gulps air without grasping an object. Some horses do both.
Weaving
The horse shifts weight rhythmically from side to side, often swinging the head and neck. Usually occurs at stall doors or gates.
Characteristics:
- Often worse at feeding time or when herdmates leave
- Can cause uneven hoof wear and leg strain with extreme cases
- Highly associated with social isolation
Stall Walking (Box Walking)
Continuous walking in circles or patterns within the stall. May follow the same path repeatedly, wearing tracks in bedding or flooring.
Head Bobbing/Nodding
Repetitive vertical head movements, often at stall doors.
Pawing
Persistent digging at ground or stall floor. While some pawing is normal (anticipation, impatience), excessive repetitive pawing qualifies as stereotypic.
Probably should have led with this section, honestly.
Why Do Horses Develop These Behaviors?
Research consistently points to management factors that conflict with horses’ natural needs:
Restricted Movement
Wild horses travel 10-20+ miles daily. Confinement in small stalls prevents this natural movement pattern. Studies show a direct correlation between time stalled and stereotypy prevalence.
Social Isolation
Horses are herd animals with strong social needs. Isolation—whether in individual stalls or separate paddocks—increases stress and stereotypy risk.
The Kentucky Equine Research notes that horses stabled with visual and physical contact with others show lower rates of stereotypic behavior than those housed in isolation.
Inadequate Forage/Natural Feeding Pattern
Wild horses spend 16-20 hours daily grazing. Horses fed concentrated meals have long periods with nothing to eat—and nothing to do. This “time-budget” disruption strongly predicts stereotypy development.
Early Weaning
Foals weaned early (before 4-6 months) or weaned abruptly show higher rates of stereotypy development, particularly cribbing.
Genetics
Some horses appear genetically predisposed to developing stereotypies. Certain bloodlines show higher incidence, though environment remains the primary trigger.
The Endorphin Connection
Once stereotypies develop, they become self-reinforcing. Performing the behavior releases endorphins—natural “feel-good” chemicals. This creates a cycle where the behavior becomes a coping mechanism the horse is neurologically motivated to continue.
This explains why established stereotypies are so difficult to eliminate—you’re fighting against the horse’s own brain chemistry.
Management Strategies
Increase Turnout Time
The single most effective intervention for most stereotypies is more turnout. 24/7 turnout with appropriate shelter dramatically reduces or eliminates many behaviors.
- Maximum possible turnout should be the goal
- Group turnout is better than individual turnout
- Large spaces are better than small paddocks
Provide Social Contact
If 24/7 group turnout isn’t possible:
- Stable horses where they can see and touch others
- Use grills or openings between stalls rather than solid walls
- Turn out in groups or pairs when possible
- Consider a companion animal (goat, donkey) for horses that can’t be with other horses
Extend Feeding Time
Slow the rate of forage consumption to better mimic natural grazing patterns:
- Use slow-feeder hay nets (small holes that make horses work for each bite)
- Scatter hay in multiple locations rather than one pile
- Feed multiple small meals rather than two large ones
- Reduce grain and increase forage proportion
- Consider track systems that encourage movement to access food
Environmental Enrichment
Add interest and activity opportunities to the environment:
- Stall toys (though benefits are limited for established stereotypies)
- Mirror installation (some research shows reduced weaving)
- Varied environment with different surfaces and obstacles
- Regular exercise and mental stimulation through training
Specific Interventions
For Cribbing
Cribbing straps/collars: Devices that apply pressure when the horse arches to crib. They prevent the behavior but don’t address the motivation. When removed, cribbing resumes. They’re management tools, not cures.
Surface modifications: Coating cribbing surfaces with unpleasant-tasting substances (commercial products or hot sauce). Effectiveness varies; many horses will find untreated surfaces.
Surgical intervention: Procedures exist but are controversial, not always effective, and raise welfare concerns.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners notes that cribbing collars and surgery address symptoms rather than causes, and the underlying motivation remains.
For Weaving
Anti-weaving grills: V-shaped bars on stall doors that allow the horse to see out but prevent side-to-side movement. Like cribbing straps, they manage symptoms.
Social solutions: Weaving responds well to increased social contact. Stable next to a calm companion; consider a stall mirror.
For Stall Walking
- Increase turnout dramatically
- Add companion or social contact
- Consider larger stall or run-in shed with attached paddock
Prevention Is Easier Than Cure
Preventing stereotypies is far easier than eliminating established ones.
For young horses:
- Gradual weaning at appropriate age (4-6 months minimum)
- Keep with other horses during weaning and early training
- Maximize turnout from the start
- Avoid prolonged stall confinement
- Provide ad-lib forage
For all horses:
- Design management around the horse’s natural needs
- Prioritize turnout and social contact
- Use slow-feeding methods
- Provide mental stimulation through varied activities
When Behavior Is Established
For horses with long-standing stereotypies, be realistic:
- Complete elimination may not be possible
- Reduction in frequency is a reasonable goal
- Address the underlying causes even if behavior continues
- Don’t punish the horse—they’re coping, not misbehaving
- Focus on overall quality of life improvements
The Bigger Picture
Stereotypies are windows into horse welfare. Rather than viewing them as annoying habits to suppress, recognize them as signals that something in the horse’s life doesn’t meet their needs.
The goal isn’t just stopping the behavior—it’s creating an environment where the horse doesn’t need to cope through repetitive behaviors. This often requires fundamental changes to how we keep horses, prioritizing their behavioral and social needs alongside physical care.
Horses that live with adequate space, companions, and continuous forage access rarely develop stereotypies. When management changes in this direction, even established stereotypies often decrease—even if they don’t disappear entirely.
Sources: American Association of Equine Practitioners, Kentucky Equine Research, Applied Animal Behaviour Science journal
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