Risk factors associated with behavioural disorders of crib-biting, weaving and box-walking in Swiss horses.
Authors: Bachmann I, Audigé L, Stauffacher M
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Stereotypic behaviours such as crib-biting, weaving and box-walking represent significant welfare concerns in horses, yet evidence on their underlying causes remains fragmented across the literature. Bachmann and colleagues analysed data from 2,341 Swiss horses across 622 randomly selected stables to identify risk factors using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for age and breed effects. Three modifiable management factors emerged as statistically significant: mature Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds classified as reactive by their owners, fed concentrates four times daily without access to daily pasture, demonstrated markedly increased odds of developing these stereotypic behaviours. Beyond these direct associations, the researchers identified five indirect pathways suggesting that housing preventing tactile contact with other horses, restricted free movement, and inadequate roughage provision may operate as contributing factors in a complex causal network. For equine professionals involved in management advice, these findings support prioritising daily turnout, frequent low-concentrate feeding strategies, and social contact opportunities as practical preventive measures, though the authors note that experimental validation of these hypotheses through controlled studies remains necessary to establish causality rather than mere association.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Provide daily pasture or paddock access and minimize concentrate feeding to reduce stereotypic behaviour risk in susceptible horses
- •Ensure housing allows tactile contact between horses (mutual grooming) and provide high roughage diets with minimal concentrates
- •Monitor reactive Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds closely as these breeds show higher predisposition to developing stereotypies; early management intervention is key to prevention
Key Findings
- •Mature Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds with reactive temperaments showed increased odds of stereotypic behaviours
- •Feeding 4 times daily without access to pasture was associated with increased risk of crib-biting, weaving and box-walking
- •11 of 60 potential risk factors were significantly associated with behavioural disorders at univariable level; 3 remained in final model
- •Lack of daily pasture access and limited social contact were identified as indirect risk factors for stereotypies