Does your horse crib-bite, weave or show other stable vices?

[kls210]

I am a 3rd year student at Exeter University, studying BSc Animal Behaviour and this year I shall be doing my dissertation study. I am studying horses for my project as they are my passion and I have owned horses for several years and very interested in their behaviour.

I am appealing to look at horses in the Exeter, Devon area, who show stable vices, to include in my study. This study can lead to improved welfare benefits for horses in the future. I am interested in what motivates behavioural vices and I plan to investigate this this by carrying out learning tasks on the horses. The horses will be required to recognise which shape mounted on cardboard gives access to carrots and which shape doesn't by nudging the shape off the top of the feed bucket, in order to reach the carrot. Owners will not be required to change their own itinerary, I would go around you personal schedules. I hope that you and horse will enjoy the study, but you do have the right to withdraw at anytime if you are not happy. Also, the results shall remain confidential, with the horses being given false names in my write up.Please email me if you know of any horses who show vices that could possibly be suitable for my study. Any help would be very much appreciated.

Katy Smith (woggle11@hotmail.com)

 

[gina2201]

I'm nr Plymouth with a horse that crib bites, so not too far!

 

[MrsMozart]

Just out of interest, and in no way to be considered antagonistic

, but why are you refering to these as stable 'vices'? I thought the new trend was to refer to them as 'behaviours' or some such

Just my musing before I wander off to my spot for the night

.

 

[sallyellis]

I have 3 horses 2 of which have been known to crib but I am in bristol

 

[Spyda]

I'm near Seaton... and have a 2 yr old that weaves when excited at feeding time.

 

[hadfos]

I have owned my boy since he was 8mnth old,obviously no learnt behaviour/vice then...i therefore no my horses history completely

He started weaving at 4yrs of age(not continuous),no logical reason why he should,he has never had a stressful life,his routine and everything else has been spot on all his life..however his dad was a chronic weaver/windsucker,i put this down to inappropriate treatment on the stallions part,and rightly so am afraid

But i do often wonder if it is hereditary,my lad is full tb and had the most natural easy life possible but still developed the weave

 

[joeanne]

I have a cribber that has cribbed for nigh on 13 years. Changing his field companions stopped it almost over night. He hasnt been seen to crib for over 5 months now.
Not in Exeter though so probably not any help at all to you!

 

[swalk]

I'm the far side of Okehampton, have a teenage pony mare that weaves and is totally neurotic (also have her daughter who has no behavioural problems and is pretty laid back).
My mum works outside of Exeter with a load of mules and she can name 2 out of over 100 that have a vice (both weave slightly)....also out of the many hundreds of donkeys that we have both come across we can't think that we ever saw any real vices.