human judgment in diagnosing problem behavior in horses using

With respect to vices and bad habits, cribbing, weaving, head shaking, and selfmutilation
are sometimes called stereotypies, which are the most common and frustrating
behavior problems of horses. Stereotypies are repetitive, highly stylized, seemingly
functionless motor responses and sequences. They occur in all captive, wild and domestic
species. The classic equine stereotypies are listed in Figure 2.1 below.
ORAL LOCOMOTOR SELF-MUTILATION
Cribbing,
Head
movements,
Self-biting, wall kicking,
tongue-movements,
weaving,
pacing,
lunging into objects.
lip-movements
stall walking, kicking,
digging
Table 2.1: Equine Stereotypies (source: McDonnell (2002) Understanding Horse Behavior)
In addition to all these classic stereotypies, horses can develop a wide variety of other
repetitive movements such as banging a bucket or jiggling a door, which would be
classified as stereotypical (McDonnell, 2002).
Lastly, some behaviors are actually related to signs or behavioral cues indicating
stress, pain or even a medical condition. Head shaking is a condition where a horse flips
his head in a reaction to sunlight, wind, movement, stress, etc. The horse can display mild
annoyance to the sensations, or may exhibit sheer and extreme pain. Behavioral cues
show that the horse will strike its nose with the forelegs because of the biting or burning
sensation. Others may rub their noses on anything they could find. This behavior can also
include extreme nose blowing, snorting, and coughing. Other head shaking symptoms can
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