Risk Factors Associated With Behavioural Disorders

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The term stereotype derives from the Greek words στερεός (stereos), "firm, solid"[1] and τύπος (typos), "impression,"[2] hence "solid impression".

Stereotypic behaviour, for example crib biting, is characterised by being undesirable, abnormal or a stable vice where a horse performs an anomalous repetitive behaviour (Budd, 2000; Fraser 1992; McGreevy, 2004). Crib biting has not been observed in feral horses, only horses within a domestic environment (Wickens and Heleski, 2010). Although this statement proposes the need to carry out research on stabled horses which crib bite to expose the causes, to date there have been no studies on crib biting as a stereotypic behaviour within the field; likely due to the cause of crib biting being in the stable. It is vital for stereotypical behaviours, such as cribbing to be explored due to underling health risks such as predisposing them to colonic obstructions and other types of colic, worn down incisors, an inability to put weight on and gastric ulcers (Litva et al, 2010; Hannes, 2008; Nicol et al, 2002). The purpose of this study is to observe a crib biter in the stable and in the field and compare the duration and frequency of the bouts of stereotypical behaviour; the aim being, to see whether the horse shows more of the stereotypical behaviour in the field than the stable.

Crib biting is a well recognised oral stereotypical behaviour occurring in horses (Ledbelt et al, 1998) which involves the horse to grasp a hard object, such as a stable door or fence post with its incisor teeth, contract its neck muscles while pulling back in conjunction with making a grunting noise (Ledbelt et al, 1998; Worthington, 1998). Although some studies believe the grunt to signify air passing into the oes...

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... a group of horses with a collar for a 24 hour period. They found that the horses cribbed more after the collar was removed than before the collar was fitted, suggesting the collar is not an effective long term prevention technique (McGreevy and Nicol, 1998). In addition Hothersall and Casey (2011) stated that the collar is often unsuccessful in the long term due to the collar only being effective once fastened extremely tightly (Hothersall and Casey, 2011). There have been adaptations of the cribbing collar such as Leatherman’s et al (1998) invention of a shock collar which has high animal welfare concerns (Leatherman et al, 1998).

Works Cited

Bachmann I, Audige L and Stauffacher M. (2003). Risk factors associated with behavioural disorders of crib-biting, weaving and box-walking in Swiss horses. Equine Veterinary Journal. Volume 35. Issue 2. Page 163.

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