This section is on equine behavior. These are all questions that have been submitted or that I have been inspired to talk about because of a question submitted. If you have any topics that you would like to have discussed please feel free to email me with the topic or question.
Crib biting is the excessive gnawing of a horse on the wooden parts of its stall. This behavior is due to excessive boredom. Horses were meant to be out in groups moving from place to place. Isolating a horse and keeping it in confinement severely limits the stimuli that the horse receives. The horse relieves his boredom by gnawing on the stall. The best way to prevent this is to take the horse out of the stall and put it with other horses in a pasture. If this is not an option, then hang a milk jug, place a bubble blower, move the horse to different stalls, etc -- anything that provides additional stimuli to the horse.
Horses are highly social animals and need interaction with other horses to lead a healthy normal life. Present mamangement, however, often puts horses into solitary living conditions -- for instance, the valuable stallion or the sole horse of a family. These horses are deprived of normal interaction and stimulation and, thus, develop behavioral abnormalities. Self-mutilation is one such behavior; there are a variety of others that manifest as well. Behavior-altering drugs are usually required to break the cycle. Once the cycle is broken, poviding companionship is often the only therapy needed. If this is impossible, the drugs may have to be continued indefinitely to prevent the behavior.
I have researched and answered these questions to the best of my ability. But I am human and make mistakes. If there is any part of my answer that you feel is incorrect, please let me know. The last thing I want is to disseminate false or incorrect information.