Page 1026 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

• reducing the grain and concentrate in the diet

• allowing visual and social contact with other horses
VetBooks.ir • providing companionship, e.g. some racehorses are kept with a sheep, goat or chicken.

Any wounds or underlying conditions, e.g. gastric ulceration, should be treated. As a
temporary solution the horse can have a bib fitted to the headcollar to prevent him chewing

himself or his rugs (see Figure 3.29). However, this does not treat the underlying cause and
wearing a headcollar for long hours can cause poll discomfort.

The welfare of stallions not used for breeding may be significantly improved by
castration so that they can be turned out with other horses.

BOX WALKING

Some horses compulsively walk round their boxes for many hours of the day. This behaviour

can lead to loss of condition and makes it almost impossible to keep the bedding fresh and
clean. It causes wear on the shoes and asymmetric muscle development if the horse always

walks in one direction.
In common with the stereotypic behaviour patterns already discussed, this is often a

reaction to boredom, frustration and stress. Once the habit is established, it can be very
difficult to break. Provision of toys or a stable companion may help, but turning the horse out

with a companion is often the only solution.

AGGRESSION

There are a number of reasons why horses sometimes behave aggressively. Aggression can

be a normal form of communication that occurs in the face of a perceived threat or it may
occur as a result of frustration or pain. It may also be the result of previous inappropriate
handling. The spectrum of behaviour ranges from putting the ears back and presenting their

rumps to lungeing forwards, biting and striking with a front foot. Whenever a horse exhibits
persistently aggressive behaviour, an attempt should be made to identify the cause.

The veterinary investigation may include the following.

• A detailed history. The vet will want to know:

– when the behaviour first started
– details of the horse’s management including feed, grazing, daily routine, contact