There are a variety of reasons for horses to walk obsessively or forcefully. This summary refers to horses that push ahead of the person leading them, but compulsive walking can also be seen in horses that are loose, and in this case means something entirely different.

Horses that walk faster than the person leading them may simply have a training problem. So, it is helpful to know if this is normal behavior for a particular horse or not.

However, compulsive walking can be seen in horses with abdominal pain (colic). This behavior is usually accompanied by other colic signs, but not always. These horses seek to keep moving in response to the pain. They may push into the halter and walk ahead of their handler. They may even trot or canter, as if they are trying to run away from the pain.

Horses that have "pacing" or "weaving" stall vices walk back and forth continuously in their enclosure. Horses in abdominal pain (colic) also stall walk obsessively and will circle continuously in a stall. Horses that are afflicted with a variety of other conditions may walk incessantly.

Horses with brain disease may walk compulsively (circle) in one direction. Blind horses sometimes circle and walk compulsively as well. Mares in estrus may pace to get to a stallion or other horses. Stallions regularly pace the perimeters of enclosures during breeding season.