How to Overcome Bad Habits in Horses

Bad habits develop as coping mechanisms in response to poor environmental conditions, an improper diet, inadequate exercise and training or a lack of socialization. Oftentimes, horses exhibit ill behavior as a way to communicate that something is bothering them, such as pain, stress, anxiety, insecurity or fear. Prevention through proper management is the most beneficial, since some behaviors can be difficult to overcome. However, with establishing sound equine care practices in combination with consistency and patience, you can correct bad habits or eliminate them permanently.

Things You'll Need

  • Low-starch feed concentrate
  • Chaff hay
  • Straw bedding
  • Horse toys
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Instructions

    • 1

      Identify your horses habits, such as being barn sour or head shy, balking, biting, bolting, bucking, cribbing, crowding, halter pulling, jigging, kicking, pawing, rearing, self-mutilating, shying, stall walking, striking, spooking, tail rubbing, weaving or wind sucking. Describing it will help you understand the relationship between it and the environment of your horses.

    • 2

      Offer a low-starch concentrate feed formula designed for the age and activity level of your horses and follow the feeding instructions. Provide the rations in small, frequent meals. Don't feed more than one-half percent of an adult horse's weight in feed concentrate or grain mix in a meal. Providing more energy than needed from concentrated foods and grains can result in pent-up energy and cause frustration.

    • 3

      Supply your horses with roughage, such as chaff in combination with hay regularly throughout the day. An equine study found that providing horses with frequent and high amounts of roughage in addition to hay reduces the incidence and risk of abnormal behaviors.

    • 4

      Analyze your daily routine. Horses adjust well to a consistent daily regime, and disruptions can be highly stressful. Typically, those that are recovering from an injury or in a demanding training schedule are most likely to be affected.

    • 5

      Observe the amount of activity and noise at your facility. Too much excitement and overstimulation can result in stress. Adjust parking areas, visitors or stablemates if needed.

    • 6

      Provide your horses straw bedding in their stalls and ample daily turn-out and exercise. Built-up energy and confinement is a key contributing factor in behavioral problems.

    • 7

      Give your horses sufficient opportunities to socialize in a herd environment. Daily interaction is vitally important to their socialization skills and their emotional well-being. If horses are kept in isolation, it will result in stress, anxiety, frustration and significant behavioral problems.

    • 8

      Offer your horses toys such as equine balls. That provides mental stimulation and prevents boredom, which can lead to the development of bad habits.

    • 9

      Communicate you are the herd leader by implementing appropriate training practices in a calm, confident and consistent manner. Ensure the horses understand your training methods, and you aren't confusing and frustrating them.

    • 10

      Evaluate the physical condition of your horses. If tack doesn't fit properly, they may be uncomfortable. Consult with your veterinarian and request physical exams. Horses in pain as a result of exercise, training or an injury will be unwilling. Hormonal imbalances can cause a change in mood and affect behavior.