Let’s be honest—some horses are just extra. While most are content munching hay and living their best pasture life, others have a little… flair. They develop habits. Weird ones. Loud ones. Sometimes downright destructive ones.

Whether it’s a stall kicker, a cribber, a door banger, or the one that turns every ride into a “Nope, not today” episode, bad habits in horses can drive owners up the wall. But before you throw your grooming bucket in frustration, let’s unpack what’s really going on.

1. Cribbing: The OG Bad Habit

Ah yes, the horse that grabs a fence post or stall door with its teeth, arches its neck, and sucks in air like it's vaping invisible horse juice. Cribbing is the classic horse vice—and one of the most misunderstood.

Why they do it:

• Boredom

• Stress

• Gut discomfort (ulcers, anyone?)

• A learned behavior from a buddy in the barn

Is it fixable?Sort of. You can use cribbing collars, special feeders, or even modify their environment. But sometimes, it becomes a permanent habit. The real win? Figuring out the root cause (usually ulcers or lack of stimulation) and treating that.

2. Weaving: The Horse Version of Pacing

You walk into the barn and your horse is bobbing back and forth like it’s doing a TikTok dance. That’s weaving—a repetitive side-to-side motion often done at the stall door.

Why they do it:

• Anxiety

• Anticipation (usually of food)

• Loneliness or lack of turnout

• Too much time in a stall (because #boredom)

What to try:

• Increase turnout and social time

• Add stall toys (yes, horse toys exist and yes, some of them are ridiculous)

• Feed small, frequent meals to cut down on food-related stress

3. Pawing, Kicking, and Banging: The Drama Queens

Some horses LOVE to be the center of attention. If yours is stomping like it's in a Broadway show every time you’re late with grain, you’ve got yourself a stall banger.

Translation: “HELLO HUMAN I AM STARVING AND POSSIBLY DYING.”(They are not. They were fed three hours ago.)

Why they do it:

• Impatience

• Learned behavior (it worked once, now they do it always)

• Nervous energy

The fix?Ignore the behavior when it happens—but reward calmness. It’s all about retraining expectations. And maybe some soundproofing for your own sanity.

4. Biting and Nipping: Rude or Misunderstood?

No one likes a biter. Unless it's a mini horse and it’s kind of funny—but that’s another story.

Why they bite:

• Disrespect of boundaries (especially if they were hand-fed treats constantly—guilty!)

• Pain (watch for sensitivity when grooming or saddling)

• Playfulness, especially in young or mouthy horses

How to fix it:

• Set clear boundaries

• Rule out discomfort

• Stop hand-feeding treats if it’s becoming a problem

• Be consistent—horses are smart and very into routines

5. Spooking at Literally Everything

Leaves? Scary. Puddle? Obviously a portal to another dimension. That plastic bag on the trail? Sent by the devil.

Why they spook:

• It’s natural! Horses are prey animals.

• Lack of confidence or exposure

• Rider tension (yep, they feel everything)

How to help:

• Desensitization exercises

• Building trust and confidence through groundwork

• Chill vibes from you (fake it till you make it, baby)

Final Thoughts: Bad Habits or Survival Strategies?

Many so-called “bad habits” are really just a horse’s way of dealing with life. Whether it’s anxiety, boredom, discomfort, or a learned behavior, there’s always a reason behind it. Your job? Be a bit of a horse detective and figure out what they’re trying to tell you.

And remember—every horse has something. The key is not to get mad, but get curious.

After all, if we judged humans for our bad habits as harshly as we judge horses, half of us would be in timeout for biting our nails or doomscrolling at 2 a.m.

So love your weird horse. Work with them. And maybe invest in a good pair of earplugs… just in case they’re a stall kicker too.

How to Train Through Specific Horse Habits (Without Going Bonkers)

Bad habits don’t mean bad horses—they mean confused horses, bored horses, or horses who have very strong opinionsabout life. Here’s how to train through those behaviors so you both come out better (and less annoyed).

1. Cribbing (aka The Fence Chewer Extraordinaire)

The Habit: Grabbing objects with their teeth, arching their neck, and sucking in air. Looks weird, sounds worse.

Training Tips:

• Vet first. Rule out ulcers. Over 60% of cribbers have digestive issues.

• Environmental changes. Turnout helps a ton. So does pasture grazing with buddies.

• Enrichment. Hay nets, slow feeders, and stall toys can give their mouth something else to do.

• Don’t punish. Cribbing is addictive—punishment = stress = more cribbing.

Long-term plan: Some habits never fully go away, but managing the triggers is key.

2. Biting or Nipping (aka The Mouthy Menace)

The Habit: That horse who thinks your arm is a snack or keeps grabbing at you during grooming.

Training Tips:

• Respect bubble. Establish and enforce personal space—use your body language like a boss.

• No hand-feeding. Especially for young or mouthy horses. Treats go in the bucket.

• Correct in the moment. Quick, calm correction (like a firm “no” or moving their head away), then move on—don’t get dramatic.

• Consistency. Don’t let them nip you one day and call it “cute,” then get mad the next.

Long-term plan: Create a routine where attention is earned, not demanded.

3. Weaving or Stall Pacing (aka The Barn’s Hypnotist)

The Habit: Your horse swings side to side in their stall like they're trying to summon spirits.

Training Tips:

• Turnout, turnout, turnout. Banish boredom. Even short turnout helps massively.

• Social time. Horses are herd animals. Stalls with mesh dividers or buddy time = less anxiety.

• Food distraction. Hay nets, foraging toys, and small, frequent meals help break the rhythm.

• Mirror trick. Yes, some horses stop weaving when you hang a mirror. It’s wild, but it works.

Long-term plan: Reduce stress, not just movement.

4. Spooking (aka Olympic-Level Leaf Dodging)

The Habit: Overreacting to things like shadows, leaves, their own shadow, or the same rock they've seen 73 times.

Training Tips:

• Confidence-building. Groundwork is everything. Lead them past spooky stuff before you ride.

• Desensitization. Gradually introduce new objects in a safe, calm space. Praise calmness.

• Don’t feed fear. If they spook, don’t make a huge deal. Stay calm, redirect, move on.

• Ride like you're chill. Even if you’re terrified. They mirror you. Deep breaths!

Long-term plan: The spookiness won’t vanish overnight, but confidence and consistency work magic.

5. Bolting or Rushing (aka The "Catch Me If You Can")

The Habit: Suddenly running off under saddle or on the ground—zero chill.

Training Tips:

• Check for pain. Rule out saddle fit, teeth, back, ulcers. A horse in pain is a runaway risk.

• One-rein stop. Practice safe stopping methods from the ground and saddle.

• Groundwork before ride. Establish calm responses to pressure.

• Transitions, circles, lateral work. Engage the brain. Keep their feet busy so they can’t check out and zoom.

Long-term plan: Turn “runaway” into “thinking partner” through patience, repetition, and focus.

Final Thought: Don’t Train the Habit—Train the Horse

Horses don’t develop bad habits to be annoying. They’re either coping, reacting, or trying to communicate something. Training through those habits means looking past the behavior and asking: What’s this horse trying to tell me?

With time, consistency, and a good sense of humor, you can turn “bad behavior” into “better understanding”—and become the kind of horse person your horse is glad to deal with