Best diet for Cribber?- As an aside, any routines to cribbing?

[EquestrianFairy]

I have taken on my new girlie and she cribs- ive come to realise that she cribs mainly in times of annoyance for example if i put her back out in the field when she doesnt want to go- she will crib. If she is in longer than she wants to be, she will crib.

Im learning to read the signs- is anyone elses like this?

As an extra ive heard diets can help and i wondered if anyone had any advice?
Shes on: speedibeet, Alpha Oil, Mix, Pink powder and Coligone (which helps a lot!)

Thanks

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Treat/feed/manage as though she has ulcers

It may never stop her completley but it may help

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Treat/feed/manage as though she has ulcers

It may never stop her completley but it may help

-what is the management/treatment/feed for horses with ulcers?

 

[EquestrianFairy]

*bump*

 

[Dowjones]

I have a cribber. I keep his diet forage based and avoid cereals or high sugar feeds. He lives out, and when living in gets as much turnout as possible. Try to keep her stimulated and not bored, so stable toys/licks are good for breaking boredom when in so should decrease the cribbing too. I dont work any of mine on a very empty stomach, as this can cause ulcers/wont help them to heal!

 

[rolsterlady]

I've had a cribber for ten years and we've found that a high-forage/fibre diet reduces it, as well as 24/7 turnout (as long as she has ad-lib grass or hay). Obviously full time turnout isn't always practical but i would advise as much turnout as possible

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Sorry was on the phone!

Basically a diet for ulcer management if fibre - no cerals and no molasses - they need to have something in their gut all the time. Feed a scoop of alfalfa before any work - ridden or lunging etc as it help reduce any acid splashing aroundTurnout as much as possible. Looking at what you are feeding drop the mix

My boy - the BGL in the right of my siggy - came to me with ulcers and cribbed and windsucked when stabled - worse around feeding time - he was previously in competition homes who kept him stabled apart from when he worked etc He is now turned out all year round - only stabled at night in the worst of the winter, has totally fibre based diet etc the closest he gets to cribbing/windsucking now is slobbering his dinner on the edge of his stable.....

It may not resolve the cribbing completely but it will make her more comfortable - the Coligone will help as well

Have a quick search as there loads of good posts on here about ulcer management etc

 

[EquestrianFairy]

I have tried to have her out 24/7 but after 2 days i find she will stand by the gate and not move for the entire 12 hours until the following day- now ive started to bring her in at night every other night but she still gets resistant about going back out so it's been adapted to every night which *touches wood* has decreased the cribbing in the field.

She is used to being stabled 14 hours a day in her previous home so I think she's finding the 24/7 TO a little shock.

I will drop the mix and I was looking at the winergy feeds for a balancer and drop the pink powder?

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

I agree with a high forage diet- low sugar feeds like Hi-fibre cubes, etc, as much TO as possible and boredom breakers such as licks (the Dengie ones are the best as the Horselyx ones are VERY sugary). I bought a Tricklenet too to make the hay last longer so there is less time with her standing at night with no hay. She still cribs but not as much as before i had the net.

 

[EquestrianFairy]

Thanks everyone;

I will drop the mix and look to add hi fibre cubes and ideally a winergy balancer and drop the pink powder. See how that goes!

 

[foxy1]

I have taken on my new girlie and she cribs- ive come to realise that she cribs mainly in times of annoyance for example if i put her back out in the field when she doesnt want to go- she will crib. If she is in longer than she wants to be, she will crib.

I'm reading this as "when something changes in her routine, she cribs" so I would do my utmost to establish a rock solid routine that I can stick to come what may.
I would also investigate giving some ulcer treatment; santa paws (aka cptrayes) on here can give advice on a tesco brand of human stomach tablets you could trial her on to see if there is a difference. If she doesn't see this thread I would PM her.

 

[.Redmerl]

Mine cribs so he is on full livery (steady routine), no cereals, as much hay as he wants, lots if turnout, fed hand full of chop before work and no sweeties. He has had ulcers (been scoped) and is on permanent supplement. He still cribs sometimes seams to be a habit he likes doing.

 

[leflynn]

I have tried to have her out 24/7 but after 2 days i find she will stand by the gate and not move for the entire 12 hours until the following day- now ive started to bring her in at night every other night but she still gets resistant about going back out so it's been adapted to every night which *touches wood* has decreased the cribbing in the field.

She is used to being stabled 14 hours a day in her previous home so I think she's finding the 24/7 TO a little shock.

I will drop the mix and I was looking at the winergy feeds for a balancer and drop the pink powder?

I had this with my boy, it used to be a fight to turn him out - he wouldn't eat and just cribbed a lot. I found after I moved yards and he was 'built up' to full turnout he loved it (only took a week). He's out daytimes and is always happy to go out, it's a double edged sword as he's now so slow to come in at night!
Theory is he didn't like his field mates or the grazing, both are now better and he is in a much more relaxed peaceful environment and seems a different horse and much more relaxed! It might be worth looking at her environment to see if anything can be done there or if anything is unsettling her?

 

[Puppy]

I have tried to have her out 24/7 but after 2 days i find she will stand by the gate and not move for the entire 12 hours until the following day- now ive started to bring her in at night every other night but she still gets resistant about going back out so it's been adapted to every night which *touches wood* has decreased the cribbing in the field.

Does she have forage in the field?

My cribber was best out 24/7 and on ab lib haylage in her hayhutch.

We also fenced the field with 6ft fence posts so that she couldn't crib on them and gave her a post in the corner that she could crib on, but she had to go out of her way to go and get to it, rather than grab the nearest bit of fence so it weaned her off of the habit quite a lot. I found stabling her was the worst thing ever (and thanks to her previous owners, the reason why she started cribbing in the first place).

 

[B-B]

As others have said and feed as for ulcers

Mine did well on Winergy Growth and then switched to 16 Plus.

I did find that Pink Powder made him worse.

Also...feed hay not haylage if you can...its like giving a curry to someone with ulcers!

 

[Luci07]

I would also keep a record of what you do and the impact. There are huge variations with cribbing and what causes it. The diet can make a big diference but I would allow for changes to take place before trying other things as well. There is a massive difference between a horse who cribs lightly out of habit and a hardened one who is setting themselves up for colic.

 

[chestnutmarelover]

I agree with the as much t/o as poss, and have noticed if I can keep his brain working, whether it be exercise or just company he forgets the need to crib! (Have gone down the ulcer route already, now think it is just the habit that needs eliminating) I bought him a decahedron ball thing (that you put carrot etc in) this is brilliant at keeping him occupied in stable or turnout, except he has to be quick, he rolls it, goodies come out, the cat steals them

 

[Natch]

Does the horse really need cubes or a mix at all? Cubes are usually bound in mollases you see, and things like that and the mix are so often there for us humans to think our horsea are eating something appetising, rather than for the horse's benefit. Diet wise the best thing you can do is to let her have constant access to a forage, and if necessary soak it or restrict the volume intake by using a feeder.

With regard to turnout and indeed general management, I would make sure you introduce changes gradually. Any horse used to coming in for 14 hours a day will take a while to settle to 24 hour turnout, but if you can gradually increase the length of time she is out for, make being out interesting and rewarding and do it that way she may settle much better.

 

[Artax]

Muzzle?

 

[EquestrianFairy]

I'm not muzzling her as her cribbing doesn't bother me, it's more for her peace.

I'm going to buy some winergy feed tomorrow, drop the mix and pink powder also.

We're coming to the last of the hayledge so will change to hay.

- shes in a routine of in by night and out by day currently- I do want to change this to 24/7 but I think like others have said I will work on this.

 

[Luci07]

I'm not muzzling her as her cribbing doesn't bother me, it's more for her peace.

I'm going to buy some winergy feed tomorrow, drop the mix and pink powder also.
.[/tQUOTE]


Problem is you do need to follow a process to work out which end of the cribbing spectrum your mare is in. A horse that can be managed with feed and distraction is fine, I have, however seen for myself other horses who were verging on obsessive. Interestingly the worst had similiar breeding but all 3 were very well cared for and worked. Wish in these modern times we could actually be a little more scientific about cribbing...

 

[Natch]

At least there is more understanding about stereotypies in general though it wasn't so long ago that everyone thought that it was a 'vice', that the horse was being somehow deliberately naughty, and had to be punished or prevented.

 

[EquestrianFairy]

As she's new to me and I've never had a cribber before I'm learning a the time.

Her process seems to vary. For example; when she first came to my yard (3 weeks ago) she was started on coligone straight away and fed the same as the last place- however TO was increased in comparison to her last home and she rarely cribbed at all within the 2 weeks I saw her do it 4 times and all in the field.

Then this last week a number of things changed for her, firstly the coligone ran out and due to Xmas post there was a delay in the next one arriving, secondly she was put onto hayledge. The rest of the routine was the same and I have noticed her cribbing more in the field and now, in her stable. Also, her field mates changed however this is regular at my yard so she may never get used to this. Two horses always remain the same but others come and go.

I wouldnt say it's obsessive, it's certainly (as far as I can see) got worse over the last week and this has prompted me to start looking into it more hence the diet questions and why I'm going to change things around.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Aloe Vera can be very soothing to horses with ulcers/difficult stomachs.

TBH, I'd be looking for a yard with more settled t/o, or at least asking if it is possible for your horse to be only turned out with the same horses all the time.

 

[Brigadoon]

As everyone says, plenty forage.
I have a mare who loves cribbing. Its her most favourite thing. She does it in, out, with ad-lib forage, whilst eating...just as much as she can. She is on a set routine that does not deviate at all.
I have her on charcoal and she has not colicked since I put her on it. I get it from stablelabel and its not expensive.

 

[TJ&Ozzie]

My old pony has been a cribber for the last 14 years and I think that it is now purely habit.

I have tried so many different feeds, toys, collars, supplements etc and he carries on regardless! He is now semi retired and cribs just as much as he did in full work. I have given up now and he has a designated post in the field and a low kick board in his stable. He ruins stable doors and has even adapted a technique of doing it side ways on the door frame. I will never stop him now so am of the opinion that at 21 and having been doing it for 14 years I will just leave him be now! He is kept at home and luckily my other horse takes no notice of the silly old fool so we just let him get on with it!