What to Do About Common Behavioral Issues in Horses
Behavioral problems in horses can be tough to solve. Is your horse acting out because it's in pain or because it's stressed? Is bucking due to back pain or a saddle that doesn't fit properly? When you're stumped by your horse's behavior, your veterinarian can help you identify the cause and find a solution.
Does Your Horse Exhibit Any of These Troubling Behaviors?
Among the most common behavioral problems in horses are:
Aggression. Whether your horse is aggressive toward people or other horses, aggression is a problem that can't be ignored. If your gentle horse suddenly bites, kicks, or lunges at you, a health problem may be to blame. A tooth issue, gastric ulcer, hormonal imbalance, arthritis, open sores, ovarian dysfunction, or neurological condition could be the reason your horse is suddenly aggressive.
How Your Veterinarian Can Help. Your veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination and may recommend a few diagnostic tests, such as bloodwork, X-rays, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasound scans. Treatment depends on the diagnosis. Hormone therapy can correct imbalances, while medication can relieve inflammation and pain and slow the progression of arthritis.
Cribbing and Stall Walking. Does your horse crib (hold onto an object with its teeth while grunting)? Cribbing is common and occurs in 5 to 15% of domesticated horses, according to UC Davis Veterinary Medicine. Pacing in the stall or weaving side to side can also occur in horses. These behaviors can be caused by stress, boredom or digestive issues, like a gastric ulcer.
How Your Veterinarian Can Help. If your horse's behavioral problem is caused by a gastric ulcer, your veterinarian may recommend omeprazole, the same medication people use to treat gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD). If boredom is the cause of weaving or stall walking, your veterinarian can suggest helpful strategies, such as using a hay net or another slow feeding device, increasing interaction with other horses, providing more turnout time, or offering stall toys.
Rearing and Bucking. Rearing or bucking are often due to pain. The Horse notes that these behaviors may be the horse's attempt to make the pain stop. Pain can be due to back or joint issues, a poorly fitting saddle, girth pain, or pain anywhere in the body.
How Your Veterinarian Can Help. Some sources of pain are obvious like sores under the saddle, while others, like sacroiliac joint dysfunction may require imaging tests. Changing the saddle and treating sores will probably stop the behavior if your horse has painful sores. Your veterinarian may recommend stall rest, physical therapy, or corticosteroid injections to ease inflammation if your horse has sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Your veterinarian can observe your horse in action and recommend helpful changes. For example, rearing could be due to a rider who pulls too heavily on the reins. Luckily, that's a problem that's easy to correct.
Failing to Move. Your horse may not just be obstinate because it refuses to take another step or ignores your commands. A variety of painful issues can be to blame for movement issues, including sore muscles, hoof pain, arthritis, lameness, a sore mouth, gastric ulcer, or a spinal or sacroiliac joint issue. Fear or confusion could also cause movement issues.
How Your Veterinarian Can Help. Your veterinarian can suggest changes to tack if the issue is due to poorly fitting bridles, halters or saddles or re-shoeing if your horse's reluctance to move is due to tender feet. Floating teeth could help if sharp points on teeth irritate the mouth when using a bit. Other issues may require medication to control pain or inflammation, physical therapy to strengthen muscles, a change in feed to improve nutrition, or supplements to support joint and hoof health, improve digestion, or calm and anxious horse.
Are you concerned about a horse behavioral issue? Contact our office to schedule an appointment with the veterinarian.
Sources:
UC Davis Veterinary Medicine: Cribbing, 6/23/2021
https://ceh.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/health-topics/cribbing
Merck Veterinary Manual: Behavior Problems in Horses, 7/2025
The Horse: Bad Behavior, or Is Something Else Going On With Your Horse?, 12/17/2025
https://thehorse.com/195510/bad-behavior-or-is-something-else-going-on-with-your-horse/
Equus: When Resistance Develops Suddenly, 3/19/2023
https://equusmagazine.com/behavior/when-resistance-develops-suddenly
PetMD: Common Behavior Issues in Horses, 6/26/2023
https://www.petmd.com/horse/common-behavior-issues-horses
University of Minnesota Extension: Unwanted Behaviors and Vices in Horses, 2024
https://extension.umn.edu/horse-care-and-management/unwanted-behaviors-and-vices-horses