Factors Associated With the Development and Prevalence of Abnormal Behaviors in Horses: Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.
Authors: Seabra Jéssica Carvalho, Dittrich João Ricardo, Vale Marcos Martinez do
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Abnormal behaviours in horses—including stereotypies such as weaving, crib-biting and box-walking—stem from complex interactions between environmental and biological factors, yet the relative importance of these risk factors remains poorly understood in practice. Carvalho and colleagues conducted a four-year systematic review and meta-analysis across Portuguese, Spanish and English-language literature, synthesising epidemiological data from studies reporting prevalence rates and associated factors for equine stereotypies; they employed both descriptive statistical analysis and data mining techniques to identify the strongest predictive variables. Across the reviewed studies, mean prevalence of abnormal behaviours showed considerable variation, though notably, prevalence estimates derived from questionnaires did not differ significantly from those obtained through direct observation, suggesting both methodologies are reasonably reliable. Most significantly, the data mining analysis identified suboptimal nutritional management as the primary factor associated with the development and prevalence of abnormal behaviours, implicating diet quality, feeding frequency and management practices as critical intervention points. For equine professionals—particularly nutritionists and stable managers—this finding underscores the need to scrutinise feeding protocols and forage availability as part of any evidence-based strategy to prevent or mitigate behavioural problems, whilst recognising that a multifactorial approach addressing housing, handling and social environment remains essential.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Review and optimize nutritional management protocols as a primary intervention strategy for reducing abnormal behaviors in horses
- •Both questionnaire and direct observation are valid assessment methods for identifying abnormal behaviors, allowing flexibility in monitoring approaches
- •Consider multiple interconnected environmental and biological factors when developing behavior management plans rather than focusing on single causes
Key Findings
- •Great variation in mean prevalence of abnormal behaviors across equine populations with no significant difference between questionnaire and direct observation methodologies
- •Incorrect nutritional management identified as the main factor influencing development and prevalence of abnormal behaviors in horses through data mining analysis
- •Multiple environmental and biological factors contribute to abnormal behavior development, with systematic analysis of scientific literature revealing diverse risk factors