THE term ‘stable vices’ refers to some behaviours most commonly seen in the stable, including box-walking, weaving, crib-biting and wind-sucking. The scientific name for this group of often repetitive, and apparently pointless, behaviours is ‘stereotypic behaviours’, otherwise known in humans as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Why do they happen? These complex behaviours have been closely studied, and research shows that most of these behaviours are caused by stress, largely due to frustration building as a result of the horse being prevented from carrying out behaviours, which they are strongly programmed to do.