Stable vices
Stable vices is a term used to describe undesirable stereotypies displayed by horses. They are typically caused by boredom or stress and can become an unbreakable habit. The repetitious nature of these behaviours can result in physical strain on the parts of the horse’s physique which are involved.
Stable vices include, but are not limited to: box walking, crib-biting, weaving and wind sucking. If a horse has a stable vice, this should be disclosed prior to sale and may impact on the horse’s sale price.
Once a stable vice becomes ingrained, it is very difficult to stop. Most stable vices can be prevented from developing initially by satisfying the horse’s natural desires to eat little and often, have interaction with other horses and have the ability to move around at will. This is typically achieved by plenty of turnout time with ab-lib forage when stabled.
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Better owner understanding needed of undesirable equine behaviours
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Is your horse stable-bound? Take a look at 7 ways to beat the boredom
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The health impact of behaviours such as crib-biting and weaving
Horses who crib-bite, weave and so on are often frowned upon in the equestrian world. But do some behaviours have greater effects on health than others? Professor Debra Archer FRCVS investigates
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Vet’s tips to help calm an anxious horse
Is your horse stressy and anxious? Simple management strategies should help him settle, explains Kieran O’Brien MRCVS
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All you need to know about crib-biting *H&H Plus*
Findings from the past few years are building a bigger picture, explains Dr Andrew Hemmings
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Stress link between stomach ulcers and crib-biting, new study suggests
The new study suggests stress could be a common denominator between crib-biting and stomach ulcers
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Crib-biting research could ‘inform human mental health’
‘Interfering with crib-biting could leave the horse vulnerable to the damaging effects of stress’
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H&H question of the week: My horse is bolshy on the ground — how can I fix this?
Jason gives a H&H forum user advice on how to handle her horse that "doesn't know the meaning of personal space"
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Crib-biting - learnt or inherited? [H&H VIP]
Crib-biting is a common stable vice, but is it a behaviour that a horse learns, or is it inherited?
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Neigh Station invented to prevent stable vices
Watching her young children play with their activity centre gave Susan Lyon an idea about how to keep stabled horses happy and entertained
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Managing long-term crib-biters
Find out how you can put a stop to your horse crib-biting
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Crib biting and wind sucking research needs volunteers
Researchers at the University of Liverpool are looking for volunteers to take part in a postal questionnaire on crib biting and wind sucking behaviour
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Are crib-biters better competition horses?
Crib-biters may actually make better competition horses due to changes in their brains and learning habits, according to latest research
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Owners sought for survey on horse behaviour
Horse owners are being asked to fill in a survey about horse habits such as crib biting, weaving and box walking in a bit to combat such stereotypical behaviour
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Water jets help stop horses kicking stable doors
Two horsey chaps in Surrey have come up with an ingenious device to stop horses kicking their stable doors
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Feeding myths: fact or fiction?
In the final part of this series, H&H asks whether providing horses with a salt lick could encourage crib-biting
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Tricks of the trade: stable vices
Horses spend most of their days in the stable during winter, so Horse & Hound finds out how to prevent stereotypic behaviour
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Research confirms mirrors reduce stress
HORSE magazine unveils recent research, which has confirmed that mirrors can help reduce the stress suffered by some horses while being stabled
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Preventing crib biting
Practical advice from HORSE magazine on how to prevent your horse from developing stable vices such as wind sucking and crib biting
