STEREOTYPIC BEHAVIOR

 

Undesirable stable vices such as cribbing and stall walking have been attributed to many things among which are, learned behavior, genetic predisposition, boredom and now, weaning trauma.  In the wild, foals are generally weaned when the mare foals again, a year later.  Even then, a filly would remain with the herd until inducted into a new band by another stallion, and colts, until about age two, when they would join a bachelor band.

 

Compare this situation with forcible separation from the mother at three to six months, and it's not hard to see the possibility of a foal sucking on any other object available which could subsequently lead to cribbing or tension releasing pacing or weaving.  Nursing foals don't crib and they don't pace stalls or fences.  One has to ask why they start.  We propose that it could easily be induced by the stress of conventional weaning.  Udderware provides an inexpensive close approximation of the natural weaning process.