Dr. Chris Mortensen discusses abnormal horse behaviors, alsoknown as 'stereotypic behaviors.’

Many of these behaviors, from cribbing, pacing, and weaving,can be linked to mental stress from confinement and dietary issues. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the causes of these behaviors, pointing out there's increased research and understanding which helps devise new strategies to alleviate these stresses.

Dr. Mortensen underscores the significance of turnout time,social contact with other horses and species and diet balance. He advises horse owners to analyze their animals' diets to ensure they are nutritionally balanced and reviews the use of items such as slow feeders and enrichments as useful tools.

Podcast Timeline

00:00 Introduction to Stable Vices in Horses

00:12 Personal Experiences and Observations at the Racetrack

01:45 Understanding Stereotypic Stable Vices

04:15 Introduction to the Speaker and the Podcast

04:39 The Prevalence and Impact of Stereotypic Behaviors

06:52 Exploring Specific Stereotypic Behaviors: Cribbing

19:42 The History and Evolution of Stereotypic Behaviors

24:58 The Role of Mental Stress and Nutrition in StereotypicBehaviors

29:18 Understanding High Energy Diets in Young Horses

30:29 The Impact of Limited Turnout Time for Horses

32:19 The Evolution of Animal Welfare in Zoos

33:12 The Misconception of Boredom in Horses

42:05 The Importance of Turnout Time for Horses

43:34 The Role of Enrichment in Horse Welfare

45:25 The Impact of Diet Variation on Horses

46:28 The Benefits of Slow Feeders for Horses

49:26 The Role of Diet in Preventing Stereotypic Behaviors

50:10 Understanding Stereotypic Behaviors in Horses

51:24 The Importance of Social Contact for Horses

52:30 Conclusion: The Importance of Understanding HorseBehavior

Visithttps://madbarn.com/mad-about-horses/ to learn more about the Mad About Horsespodcast.

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