The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of crib-biting and weaving in horses stabled in tie stalls and to investigate the relationship between gender, age, and stereotypies. One hundred and seventy-seven half-bred saddle horse residents of a riding school, of both genders and between the ages of 3 and 20, distributed in three buildings with the same management conditions, were observed. For the statistical analysis according to gender, the horses were classified into 2 groups: geldings (n = 110) and mares (n = 67). According to age, the horses were classified into 2 groups: namely, 3 to 7 years old (n = 31) and 8 to 20 years old (n = 146). During three consecutive days, a single evaluator spent one day per building observing the presence or absence of crib-biting and weaving. Each given day was divided into 2 periods of observation: from 7:30 to 13:00 and from 14:30 to 20:00. Stereotypies were observed in 4.5% of the horses, i.e., 3.4% of the horses showed crib-biting and 1.1% showed weaving. We did not find horses showing crib-biting and weaving at the same time. No association was found between the prevalence of stereotypies and either gender or age of the horses. Our results suggest that visual and tactile contact with other horses, which occurs in tie-stall housing, could reduce the risk of developing weaving in tie-stall horses but not crib-biting.

There are few studies on locomotion patterns of horses and the amounts of time they spend stall walking. The objective of this study was to describe the locomotion patterns of horses performing stall walking. The time animals spent in this stereotype was also recorded. Ten thoroughbred racehorses residing in the Club Hípico de Concepción and exhibiting stall walking behavior were recorded continuously in their own stalls from 15:00-18:00 over two days in a row. Locomotion patterns (direction and gait) and time spent (loops per hour walking around the stall and duration of each round) were described. Nine of ten horses (90%) showed a unique locomotion pattern inside the stall, such as walking or trotting in only one direction around the stall without stopping; walking in only one direction around the stall and stopping at the door; walking in one direction around the stall and stopping at the door and in a corner different from the door; walking in one direction and stopping eventually in four locations of the stall; and walking forming an eight by the wall opposite to the door. Just one of the horses performed two types of patterns. Mean stall walking time was 31.4 ± 22.3 min during the observation period. The results indicate that, under similar management conditions, thoroughbred horses performed different locomotion patterns. Besides, the time horses spent performing stall walking ranged between 3.9% and 41.7% of the observation time. No increase of stall walking frequency was observed before feeding time.

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de estereotipias clásicas en caballos fina sangre de carrera del Hipódromo Chile, Chile, y la influencia del género y la edad. Se estudió la totalidad de los caballos fina sangre de carrera residentes en el Hipódromo Chile (n = 565). Por observación directa se determinó la presencia o ausencia de aerofagia, paseo circular en pesebrera o balanceo en cada caballo. Los resultados son expresados como porcentajes simples. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó la prueba exacta de Fisher con un nivel de significancia de p < 0,05. La prevalencia total de estereotipias clásicas fue 6,19 % (2,68 % aerofagia, 2,33 % paseo circular en pesebrera y 1,79 % balanceo). No se encontró asociación entre las estereotipias y el género. Solo se encontró asociación entre la presencia de paseo circular en pesebrera y los caballos de 2 a 3 años de edad (p = 0,022). Los resultados sugieren que los caballos fina sangre de carrera del Hipódromo Chile presentan una prevalencia de estereotipias clásicas dentro del rango registrado previamente y que la edad es un factor de riesgo para el paseo circular en pesebrera.