Perceptions of Whether Stereotypic Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds are Harder to Rehome Than Nonstereotypic OTTBs-A Pilot Survey Study.
Authors: Wickens Carissa, Arias Esquivel Ana Margarita, Hendricks Craig, Heleski Camie
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Stereotypic Behaviours and OTTB Rehoming Off-the-track Thoroughbreds exhibiting stereotypic behaviours—such as weaving, crib-biting, or box-walking—appear to face considerably greater challenges in finding suitable homes following their racing careers, according to this pilot survey from Wickens and colleagues. The researchers gathered responses from 38 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-accredited centres (representing 987 horses admitted over one year) alongside 100 current and prospective OTTB owners, finding that 17% of intakes presented with one or more stereotypic behaviours; critically, 92% of centres reported these behaviours made rehoming "somewhat to much more challenging." On the demand side, nearly half of surveyed owners stated they would be negatively influenced in their purchasing or adoption decisions if a candidate horse exhibited stereotypic behaviours, despite 55% of current OTTB owners actually living with horses displaying such habits. The practical implication is clear: investment in evidence-based behavioural rehabilitation protocols and targeted education for potential adopters may be essential to improve outcomes for this cohort, since relegating behaviourally normal but stereotypic horses to prolonged institutional care—or worse outcomes—represents both a welfare and economic inefficiency in aftercare programmes. Farriers, veterinarians and rehabilitation professionals working with OTTBs should recognise that addressing stereotypic behaviours early may substantially improve a horse's rehoming prospects.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Stereotypic behaviors significantly impede OTTB rehoming success; centers and adopters should recognize this as a major placement challenge requiring targeted strategies
- •Nearly half of prospective OTTB owners would be deterred by stereotypic behaviors, suggesting the need for better owner education about the manageability and welfare implications of these behaviors
- •OTTB aftercare programs should prioritize assessment, documentation, and potential mitigation of stereotypic behaviors to improve placement outcomes and horse welfare
Key Findings
- •17% (n=172) of 987 OTTBs admitted to TAA-accredited centers over one year had one or more stereotypic behaviors
- •92% of responding centers indicated that having a stereotypic behavior made horses somewhat or much more challenging to rehome (P<0.0001)
- •55% of current OTTB owners surveyed owned a horse with a stereotypic behavior, while 45% indicated a stereotypic behavior would negatively impact their decision to purchase or adopt an OTTB