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  Discussion on Why do so many know so little about cribbing?
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Member:
Cowgrl

Posted on Thursday, Apr 1, 2004 - 12:02 pm:

Recycled motor oil works well painted on the boards. Discourages wood chewing/cribbing in a big way.
Member:
Liliana

Posted on Saturday, Apr 3, 2004 - 5:15 pm:

“Prevention is better that cure” has been drummed into my ears ever since I started studying and reading anything I can about horse!

As far as I know winds king is winds king (cigarette effect) and cribbing is chewing gnawing anything at mouth’s reach

Some horses like humans have become neurotic due to their environment, they are gregarious animals, so being confined into the stable on their own for long periods is very stressing for them.

The answer has always been to keep them entertained perhaps with a ball hanging on a piece of string from the top of the stable door or ceiling, also a turnip tied to a string, an apple bobbing in the water bucket, a dog or a goat in the stable (if it is big enough) give them a stable with a view with people passing by or something to keep them entertained, a saltlick block on the wall, a big horse hage net (with small wholes) so that it takes them longer to finish their hay, the idea is to keep them busy changing their environment, friends as little as possible is also important

Reading “suffering through ignorance” thread or any for that matter it is obvious that we care about our critters, but, I’ve found that understanding horses goes well beyond grooming, tacking up and riding. Learning about their psychology, digestive system, keeping them as close as possible to their natural way in the wild works out so much better in the long run, one of my mares had an eye problem for years due to being fed on a table instead of on the floor as it is their nature is an example that comes to mind nothing to do with wind sucking but one of the problems that can be solved some times
That is my humble advise
Liliana
Member:
Ladera

Posted on Sunday, Apr 4, 2004 - 4:10 am:

The articles wriiten on stable vices are an excellent reference for those who have a horse with one of these vices.
I had a horse who was a windsucker. I should have seen the first warning when the trainer said that the metal bar on his stall was a temporary maintence problem.
I need/want to add my two cents for those who will cross this website.
My horse was put out to pasture hoping he would stop , prevent or lessen the windsucking. He planted his incisors on anything to get his "high". He windsucked on the water feeder, fence posts, and trees.
I used the miracle collar. He stretched the brow band until it snapped. I also fleeced lined the collar because the strap dug into his skin and caused many sores. I also removed the collar daily .
I tried the French cribbing strap which worked the best against preventing the windsucking. He continued eventhough he developed huge sores where the metal laid.
I tried staying up all night policing his stall and pushed him off the gate everytime he would windsuck. By three in the morning I was exhausted.
I placed him in a schooling program which kept him active. I rode him in the morning and a young girl would ride him in the afternoon. He was the happiest with this arrangement . He still would toke at any chance he had during his rest time. You could actually see his eyes soften by his third windsuck.
I was warned that he would promote cribbing /windsucking with his stablemates. None of his stablemates ever tried or exhibited his passion.
I also used the mcnasty antichew spray.I held my breath and manage to catch a whiff of this product. The wind kicked up just as I took a breath. I thought I was going to die. The product warns of the necessity of proper ventilation. I thought holding my breath was sufficient. I was stupid.
He had episodes of gas colic. I was looking at the neurectomy when he developed severe colic. Do I think he coliced because of the chronic windsucking? Yes indeed.
THe cribbing muzzle was not available when my horse was alive. I think the muzzle is a humane approach to deal with cribbing or windsucking.
Good Luck to hose who will deal with this problem.I do feel that my horse was a severe addict. I have seen less severe cases. I tried to prevent a nasty outcome.
Member:
Lala

Posted on Sunday, Apr 4, 2004 - 7:41 am:

Dear Sue,

Re do they colic more and studies. Check out the information collected by Dr. Christine King, Preventing Colic in Horses. In it on page 52 she says:

"It was long thought that colic in cribbers was caused by overinflation of the stomach with swallowed air. But is has since been proven with radiographic (x-ray) studies that these horses do not swallow air. The air they gulp does not get any further than the first few inches of the esophagus. It is then expelled into the back of the throat, making the grunting or belching noice that is heard when horses crib.

"One reason why colic may be more common in cribbers is that they spend much of their time cribbing rather than grazing or eating hay. Thus, their food intake, when they do stop to eat, is intermittant and their overall roughage intake may be inadequate. And because these horses tend to be light in condition, their ration usually includes grain. As discussed later, colic risk increases as the amount of grain in the diet increases. For the same reasons, horses that compulsively fence-walk, stall walk, or weave could also be at increased risk for colic."

Just as post-foaling mares are at increased risk for surgical colic cases and death by colic, I have been warned by experienced breeders never to buy a cribbing broodmare because of their two stikes against them in terms of increased risk of colic. That said, there are old broodmares out there who crib who successfully, healthily have foals year after year. As with anything equine, generalizations dangerous.

That said, I spent a wonderful two years with an 18-20 year old gelding who was quite a severe cribber -- find the top of a fence post or riding ring post and go for it when one's head was turned -- but he was pastured in electric fence and turned out most of the time -- and plump. so, in a gelding that is otherwise a good eater my unscientific and not based on studies conclusion is that the risk subsides considerably. Dr. King's book is really quite informative on colic, in it she explains causes and collects information on all the studies on colic as of 1999.

Good luck with all with your cribbers!

Fiona
Member:
Jojo15

Posted on Monday, Apr 5, 2004 - 10:28 pm:

I wanted to add my thoughts since i have a "wood-chewer"... My first thought is that "cribbing" and wood chewing are totally two different things. and One does not lead to the other. And i was wondering if your horse has one or the other. Or both. But they don't necessarily go hand in hand.

I have also been told that cribbing (wind sucking) is likened more to a heroine addiction as opposed to smoking, though. There is a high involved when they suck wind.

As a personal aside, though, my mare has been chewing her stall door for years, and nothing short of putting PVC over the wood has stopped it. EXCEPT, now that we have moved she hasn't chewed anything. I forgot what a problem it was. But now she is out at least 12 hours a day.

I also remember hearing from everyone that she is going to start to crib. Didn't happen. 10 years of nawing on the wood and she never started that habit. I even remember a time when a cribber was in the stall next to her and i put up a stink (erroneously) about cribbing being a learned response and how i wanted them to move that horse. That horse was there for 2 years. My horse never started then either.

Cribbing muzzles seems like a try. Even for the wood chewing. But as for the stopping the chewing? i have tried everything. And nothing really worked. She even started to enjoy a tabasco/hotpepper spray that i mixed up thinking that would stop her. LOL... Only thing that worked is the pvc pipe that is cut and mounted over the wood. And hot wires around the paddocks..

Wood chewing is a pain in the butt for the owner, and i don't think its as devastating as cribbing. One is just destructive while the other seems detrimental to their health and wellness.

Good luck....
Member:
Liliana

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2004 - 3:59 pm:

Cribbing and wind sucking are not the same thing. When a horse wind sucks ( as the name suggests) the horse gets hold of the edge of the stable door or a bar (or some edge) with his teeth and lips, arches its neck and sucks air similar to when we are going under water and take a deep breath; cribbing would be your wood chewer

Bit of useless information stored in the hard disk from when I took my test.
Member:
Sunny66

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2004 - 4:07 pm:

Now I'm confused...I thought chewing wood was chewing wood - as artistic as it could be...and cribbing and windsucking are the same?

Member:
Terrilyn

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 6, 2004 - 4:10 pm:

Cribbing is the act of grabbing a surface, flexing the neck, and sucking air. Chewing wood is chewing wood.
New Member:
Shambles

Posted on Sunday, Sep 5, 2004 - 9:04 am:

I am considering buying a 6 year old TB gelding who is a windsucker. He is for my 14 year old son who wishes to train him for eventing (off the race track ca. 1 year ago and relatively green). Am I throwing my money away and, more importantly, will all his anticipated hard work and emotional attachment go to waste.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 7, 2004 - 6:22 am:

Hello V Crowley-Clough,
We have important information on cribbing in the article associated with this forum. Select Stable Vices: Cribbing, Weaving, and Others from the navigation bar above and read the article. Then if you have any questions after reading it you can post them in your own discussion using the link at the bottom of the list of already posted discussions.
DrO
Member:
Kchariot

Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 2:03 pm:

I have a thoroughbred at the track who is a cribber. I bought her the miracle collar. She has been spending a lot of time trying to get it off. She has learned to pin her ears back and push it over them.

I have been doing a lot of reading about the topic. Do you think it could be related to the amount of grain she is fed? Would adding Equi-Jewel, which has more fat and would reduce the amount of sweet feed she gets help?

She is fed alfalfa and timothy hay. She can have all the hay she wants 24/7. She does eat more with the Miracle collar than the old one she had. She also isn't getting marks on her neck from it.

Help!! I also purchased a stall buddy mirror, but we haven't put it up yet.

Thanks!!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, May 14, 2006 - 9:30 am:

It may help to switch to a higher fat feed if you are careful to cut back on the amount because of the extra calories, but don't get your hopes up to much with a confirmed cribber. What is your horses condition? Did you read the article associated with this forum Kathy?
DrO
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