STEREOTYPIES

Text | Shelley Wolhuter, Founder of Libratum Equus

WHAT ARE THEY, AND WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?

In simple words, stereotypies are stable vices. They are unwanted and often harmful behaviours that horses learn for various reasons. Common stereotypies include weaving, windsucking, crib-biting, head shaking and box-walking.

Horses can learn them on their own, and it is thought that they can also learn them by copying another horse. The important point to note is that stereotypies do not exist in wild horses.

WEAVING

Weaving is when a horse stands over a stable door and snakes their head and neck from side to side, shifting their weight to either foot as they weave. Weaving can cause repetitive stress on the bones of the legs and the joints, as it is not a natural movement for the horse.

WINDSUCKING

Windsucking is when a horse either bites onto a door or a fence or presses their bottom lip against something and swallows air. Crib-biting can look similar but is different because the horse does not actually swallow air. These stereotypies can be quite harmful to the horse. Firstly, they can wear their teeth down very quickly, which affects their ability to graze and chew their food correctly. This can result in their food not being digested properly and eventually causing other health problems for the horse. And then, in some cases, the swallowing of air causes the horse to not want to finish their food. This, of course, can affect their whole body as they may not be able to get the nutrients their body needs to be healthy. Research has also suggested that horses who windsuck and crib-bite may have a higher incidence of ulcers and colics.

BOX-WALKING

Box-walking is when a horse paces around in their stable, either from side to side or around in circles. Box-walking can be quite a severe stereotypy as it can cause a lot of damage to the horse’s body. This is due to the horse moving in such tight circles and often in only one direction. Eventually, their body may become ‘bent’ in that direction, almost like a banana. This would affect how the horse goes under saddle and may cause long term damage to the horse’s joints.

WHY DO THEY OCCUR?

Sadly, stereotypies are usually a sign of severe stress or anxiety, or both, in a horse. Sometimes, they develop due to boredom, but this is less common. These behaviours are what we call ‘coping mechanisms’, which help make painful or stressful situations more bearable. They can also be seen as ‘self-soothing’ behaviours, where the horse tries to make himself feel better.

Some stereotypies are only seen in certain situations, such as feed time. However, the severe ones can be seen often throughout the day. The possible reasons for these horses’ high stress can be many things from long times spent stabled, to separation from friends, to discomfort etc. Paying close attention to when they happen can give a clue about why they’re there. If you are worried in any way about your horse’s behaviour or you feel that they have started to behave oddly, please consult your vet and possibly an equine behaviourist or instructor to get some advice on how to improve or, ideally, fix the situation.

IMPORTANT: The word ‘vice’ is hardly accurate or fair, as it suggests that the stereotypy is the horse’s fault, or that they are being naughty. However, this simply isn’t the case. Something in the horse’s life or routine is causing them stress, and the onus falls on the owner to address it. Stereotypies can be helped in some cases, but unfortunately, once they are learned, they are hard to get rid of, even if the cause has been resolved. The best thing one can do is nip them in the bud when they first appear.