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Think of a time you were living with a constant source of pain. Sometimes, the best thing to do is to keep yourself busy and to keep your mind on something else. Maybe this is what ulcer-ridden horses are trying to accomplish by cribbing?
Because cribbing is a common problem in horses and has been reported since the beginning of horse husbandry, many myths and wives’ tales surround it. But, whatever your horse’s circumstance may be, it’s important to make sure that he has some form of entertainment at all times. "Does the horse have any vices?" should be on your list of questions for the owner of any horse you are considering buying.
Managing a horse that cribs
There is no absolute method to stop cribbing in certain horses, but there are ways to cope. Here are some suggestions that have been tried by those who have cribbers. But, the BO just built wooden slow feeders and IF he does even try it, I want to make sure it's the last time he does. Cribbing is a tragic problem that is all too prevalent in the stabled horse. When helping your horse to get rid of this habit, always keep in mind where it’s coming from.
Metal chew guards, foul-tasting deterrent sprays and even electric fencing can all ward a horse off of chewing on particular parts of the stable. Bear in mind that a horse can still suck wind on his own without chewing wood, so a determined cribber may find a way around these tactics. This can at least curb some of the material damage to your barn.
What Are the Health Risks from Cribbing?
On the surface, the behavior doesn’t seem like it should be especially damaging. It produces a measurable physical effect in the body by slowing the animal’s heart rate, lowering cortisol levels and releasing endorphins. Cribbing an also boost saliva production, which may help to ease some kinds of stomach pain. “Those are likely horses that at some point had a management where they were stalled more often than a horse in the pasture,” said Riggs. Shari Frederick, BS, NMD, LE, a nutritional educator, assists horseowners in making healthier, more natural choices in horse care.
Strips of metal can be applied to stable doors to discourage horses from chewing on them. Replacing vast swaths of wooden fence with an electric one can help reduce the amount of surface area for a cribber to gnaw. Try a cribbing ring around your horse's teeth if other options are unsuccessful. Cribbing rings prevent the practice by not allowing the horse to make contact between its teeth and the object it is cribbing.
What is Horse Cribbing?
She participated in a study that looked at the long-term outcome,2 and of 90 horses that were available for follow up, 76 had stopped the cribbing behavior for a year or more-an 84.4% success rate. While cribbing and windsucking are both considered abnormal behaviors, cribbing is more common. Both cribbing and windsucking can lead to potential health issues if the behavior becomes chronic. Horses who begin cribbing are often the ones who, at one point in their lives, were confined to stalls and trained for performance careers.
You can even make your own treat-dispensing toys with an old milk jug or other recycled materials. So some owners have turned to surgical intervention to make it impossible for the horse to crib. The most commonly used surgical method is a modified Forssell's procedure.
Diet
So, cribbing collars work to prevent the behavior, but not to break the habit. Of 419 horses who were treated for EFE, 47 percent were cribbers—but it is also important to note that the majority of the horses in the study, 53 percent, developed the condition with no history of cribbing. Also, excessive tooth wear may also affect the ability of older cribbers to eat properly. Cribbing may also result in weight loss; some horses may prefer to crib than eat. Alternatively, it is thought that excess air in the stomach from cribbing may decrease a horse's appetite. Cribbing seems to start mostly in younger horses about several months old or so.
If you have one horse that cribs, the story goes, you will soon have a whole herd of them. It’s very common to have several horses living together with only one of them engaging in cribbing behavior. The horse gulps air into the esophagus as it breathes, which sometimes causes a gurgling sound in the throat.
There have been some instances of horses that pass out from wearing a very tight cribbing collar. However, these cases are rare and controlling the behavior is very important. Researchers are still divided on whether or not a horse that cribs can teach other horses to crib. Dr. Sue McDonnell, from the University of Pennsylvania, has studied cribbers for many years. It is her experience that it is very rare for a cribber to teach other horses the habit.
For instance, try a treat ball or barrel designed for horses. You place treats inside the toy, and the horse has to move it around to get the treats out. In fact, if your horse is at one end of the stable, you might put it in a middle stall where it will see more traffic going by.
It is, however, a habit which can have some health implications that must be considered by the owners if it is allowed to persist. While there aren’t specific types of cribbing, there are some similarities that it shares with other terms used to designate the condition. The wood or surface of the object may be eroded as a result of repeated episodes, but the wood is not chewed as such. This stable vice is also one of the most harmful to the horse’s health. For a start, over time, the cribber’s upper incisors can become worn down to almost nothing from all the pressure he places on them.
Dr. Houpt is especially passionate about improving the welfare of horses being used for sport and recreation and has written many publications on the topic. Some horses can become so addicted to the rush of cribbing that they will forsake eating for it. This can result in a weight loss, malnutrition, and poor performance. Studies show that there is also a higher association with colic in horses that crib.
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Digestive issues There is evidence to suggest that horses may crib to alleviate gastrointestinal distress. Talk to your veterinarian about adding an antacid to your horse’s diet. Early weaning Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do about this one if your horse comes to you as an adult. However, find out when and how he was weaned – foals weaned early and fed too much concentrate can have a higher risk of cribbing.
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