Horse CribbingHorse Cribbing is a sign of stressCribbing or wind sucking is a stable vice. A vice is a stereotypy that helps the horse to deal with stress. It probably releases endorphins in the brain that make the horse feel more comfortable. Cribbing horses actually don´t swallow the air into the stomach. The characteristic noise is produced when the air enters the throat. The air doesn´t get swallowed beyond the throat. So air swallowing is not the cause for colic in cribbing horses as long thought. More likely: What is causing the wind sucking is also causing the colic. New findings show that a very high percentage of cribbers also have stomach ulcers. So the stomach pain could be a trigger for the vice. Some horses put their head on the crib or a fence when sucking in air. This behavior though will do damage to the incisors and wears them down. What causes cribbing?It is thought that this stable vice is caused by stress.
TreatmentA cribbing collar or surgery will only eliminate or improve the symptoms. They are not curing the cause. Removing the stress factor will improve the situation long term, but the habit might never disappear completely. It should become less frequent though. Change of management practices that will show long term improvements are:
Bottom Line: a more natural way of keeping horses that respects their physical and social needs will prevent and cure stable vices! Return from Horse Cribbing back to Horse Behavior |
