Signs of stress

Stereotypies are born of distress, not malice, and horses who display such behaviours deserve understanding. Rebecca HamiltonFletcher MRCVS explains why they develop and how they should be approached

- Rebecca Hamilton

UNDESIRABLE equine behaviour is frequently listed as a top concern among horse owners. It includes behaviours such as pawing, striking, kicking, biting, rearing, bolting, bucking, napping, shying and freezing – all of which carry both social and economic implications and that, at their worst, can be dangerous to the rider/handler and render the horse valueless.

Horses will never act out of malevolence, and there will always be an explanation for such behaviours. Refusing to load, for example, is the horse’s species-specific response to an anxiety-inducing situation – perhaps due to poor initial training or a previous bad experience – rather than wilful naughtiness.

Identifying the reasons for such behavioural problems presents a challenge for both vets and owners.

Undesirable behaviours are usually the horse’s way of expressing an avoidance of, or resistance to, inappropriate management, housing, handling, training or riding. US studies have suggested that pain may account for up to 25% of such behaviours, with frustration, fear and anxiety making up the rest.

Furthermore, abnormal behaviours, where a response is “away from the norm” for that individual – such as standing in the corner of the stable with feed untouched – should be immediately recognised by the owner, and are often seen as an essential diagnostic tool by vets for identifying a clinical problem, such as colic.

All problem or abnormal behaviours need addressing, on both safety and welfare grounds, but it’s vital to identify and resolve the cause, rather than just target and punish the unwanted behaviour itself.

NO CLEAR PURPOSE

WHEREAS most undesirable behaviours are avoidancebased, stereotypical behaviours (or stereotypies) differ in that they do not appear to serve any obvious purpose.