Introduction
In nature, the horse is a gregarious, roaming animal that grazes
constantly. In captivity, the horse is frequently confined, alone,
and without anything to chew. When you consider the changes in habits
that we ask of the horse, it is amazing that he adapts at all. When
pushed too far he will find ways to satisfy his physical and
psychological needs and, like humans, what is too far varies widely
from individual to individual. With repetition, these adaptations to
an abnormal environment can become ingrained behavior that are
impossible to eradicate.
A Biochemical Addiction
All of the common stable vices stem from poor adaption to captive
management. They are mostly psychological adaptations that help calm
the horse. Some of these vices even have established biochemical
pathways and are analogous to drug addiction: the behavior causes the
release of chemicals in the brain that relax the horse. With this is
mind two points jump out:
(1) Punishment for a stable vice will probably stress the horse
more and worsen the problem.
(2) Prevention is done by providing as comfortable an environment
as is possible. The following list should help:
a. Allow as much pasture time as possible.
b. When stalled make hay available constantly.
c. Avoid keeping a horse stalled alone.
d. Keep windows open so the horse can see out, even better is
to allow him to stick his head out.
Cribbing or Windsucking
The horse grabs onto a fixed object with his teeth, arches his neck
and grunts. The behavior is usually brought on by boredom or
frustration. It is said that horses can also learn this behavior
watching other horses do it. Ample time on pasture and hay when
stabled will go a long way to prevent this behavior from developing.
Treatment
If started very early in the behavior, a cribbing strap may prevent
the behavior from becoming fixed. Cribbing straps are effective for
most confirmed cribbers but must be put on tightly. Cribbing straps
vary in design and harshness. Use the mildest strap you can get by
with. To prevent sores from developing, buy several cribbing strap
covers and keep a clean cover on the strap by changing it every few
days. A relatively new version marketed under the name "Miracle
Collar", has proven to be very effective and most horses seem to be
able to wear this collar without developing sores.
There is a surgery available that is fairly effective when done
early. The modified Forssell's surgical procedure may provide the
best results with a 60% success rate in one large study. Surgical
treatments include bilateral buccostomy (creating bilateral buccal
fistulae to prevent development of an oral vacuum), neurectomy of the
ventral branch of the spinal accessory nerve (to prevent motor
activity of the sternomandibularis muscle), Forssell's procedure
(resection of a segment of the omohyoideus, sternothyroideus and
sternomandibularis muscles), and the modified Forssell's procedure
(transection of a large segment of the ventral branch of the spinal
accessory nerve, and transverse and oblique sectioning of the
cranial, middle and caudal aspects of the omohyoideus and
sternohyoideus muscles).
Woodchewing
This is a common behavior in horses that frequently does not have a
nutritional basis but a psychological one. Check the horses diet to
be sure it is balanced and adequate in amount. Provide a salt block
if one is not available and be sure the horse has free access to hay
or grass. Cover all the board surfaces with carboleum or angle iron.
Trees can be wrapped with chain link fence to prevent debarking.
Pawing and weaving
Horses that weave, paw or walk the stall should be stalled as little
as possible. The same management advice provided for cribbing and
chewing is applicable here. Providing more exercise may decrease this
behavior.
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